Ganesh Chaturthi to be celebrated in London

Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be celebrated on a grand-scale in London for the first time on Sunday by the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society, UK.

The celebration would be organised at the Vishwa Hindu Mandir in Southall with the support of numerous temples, gurdwaras and many other organisations, Brij Mohan Gupta, chairman of the society said Friday.

• A first-timer at the Ganesh immersion

"We are seeking the blessing of Lord Ganesh to grant world peace in an otherwise very turbulent world," Gupta said.

He said the Shobha Yatra (procession) would start from Vishwa Hindu Mandir and proceed to Ram Mandir at King Street, Southall.

Subsequently, the idol of Lord Ganesh would be immersed in the River Thames in the presence of dignitaries, he said.

The tradition of Ganapati festival dates back to 1895 when the renowned Indian nationalist leader Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, revived the festival in the form of community celebration in Maharashtra.

Today it is one of India's most popular festivals. "The festival is particularly relevant today in Britain. Like our ancestral land India, Britain too is a multi-cultural and a multi-faith society, giving boost to a new phase of cultural transformation welcoming diverse communities and openly greeting their faith, living styles, food and even fashion."

He said devotees from Ireland, Europe, Mauritius, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are also expected to participate in the festival in London.