UK: Ganesh visarjan in Thames

Over 10,000 people from all walks of life witnessed the first-ever immersion of Lord Ganesha's idol at river Thames, marking the culmination of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Britain. The 'Shobha Yatra' started from Vishwa Hindu Mandir in Indian-dominated Southall before it proceeded to Ram Mandir at King Street Sunday evening.

Subsequently, the idol was taken for immersion in Thames in the presence of dignitaries. The idol carved out of plaster of Paris was brought here from Pune on Saturday by leading Indian Barrister in London Bhasker Ghorpade who is also the vice chairman of the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society, United Kingdom.

In a letter addressed to Ghorpade, Helen Deas, deputy head of the British High Commission in Mumbai hoped the immersion would be a significant event and would mark the ever-deepening relationship between India and the UK and "...our communities in every region of our countries."

Brij Mohan Gupta, chairman of the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society, UK, said several temples, gurdwaras and many Indian organisations participated in the celebrations. "Through the celebrations, we sought the blessing of Lord Ganapati to grant world peace in this otherwise very turbulent world," Gupta said.