Ever since she was a little girl Sonita Mitra has dreamed of being a Bollywood star.

The 34-year-old Job Centre worker finally got a chance to shine yesterday when she was invited to dance at the official opening of Bradford's Bollywood Oscars celebration.

The mother of one, who wore a sequin-spangled skirt all the way from Bangalore for her Bollywood debut in Centenary Square, said being asked to dance at the dazzling event was the nearest she had got so far to stardom.

"I grabbed the chance but I didn't realise I was going to be the first act. From being four or five I've always wanted to be a Bollywood performer," she said.

Her crowd-drawing routine marked the start of the city's three-day fringe festival in honour of the 2007 International Indian Film Academy Awards coming to Yorkshire.

Yorkshire beat competition from around the world to host the awards ceremony, which will be in Sheffield, with Bradford one of four other cities putting on fringe performances.

With IIFA events being televised worldwide, the festival will raise Bradford's profile among an expected audience of 500 million.

The highlight will be a show called Bollywood Steps, which will be performed in front of City Hall - at 9.30pm today and at 3pm and 9.30pm tomorrow.

Elaborate song and dance routines, a "wet sari scene" and a kaleidoscope of 140 costume changes will all be part of it.

An array of Asian foods, fashions, jewellery, accessories and textiles has also been tempting crowds at a Bollywood-themed bazaar in the city centre - on until tomorrow.

The National Media Museum has been putting on a linked exhibition and film workshops, the Big Screen is showing top Bollywood movies over the weekend and a live broadcast of the Bollywood Oscars awards ceremony from 7pm tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, more than 5,000 people are expected at a family fun day in Bradford Moor Park from 11am to 5pm, serving up Asian cuisine as well as plenty of on-stage entertainment and local talent.

Fun day organiser Simon Loveitt, of the BD3 Partnership, said: "We have deliberately planned activities and giveaways to attract the interest of all ages and ethnic groups.

"This is a great excuse to celebrate what's good about our community."