DEATH is to be celebrated as part of an upcoming festival aimed at dispelling some of the taboos around death and dying.

The Art of Dying Well is an event hosted by Mountbatten, themed around the indigenous Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos.

The first day will coincide with the traditional start of the Day of the Dead on November 2, and will see a week of activities including a sugar skull making workshop and a parade through Ryde.

Mountbatten chief executive Nigel Hartley said: “We know and understand why death and dying are challenging subjects for many people, mostly due to fear, denial and a lack of knowledge.

“Encouraging conversations about death and dying is part of our work at Mountbatten and we hope the Art of Dying Well will support and give confidence to people to start some important discussions.

“We are all going to die, and planning ahead for that time means less certainty, more comfort and carrying out our wishes.”

The parade will be followed by a Mexican-themed meal and spoken word event at Monkton Arts in Ryde.

Mr Hartley said: “I would like to thank the wide range of people who have been involved in supporting us to make this event happen.

“We believe it is such a vital issue, one that can make a positive difference to people at what can be a very difficult time."