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Hindu god consecrated at resort Hindu god consecrated at resort
(about 10 hours later)
Up to 10,000 people are expected at an Essex resort to consecrate a six foot image of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha. About 4,000 people have travelled to an Essex resort to consecrate a 6ft image of the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha.
Hindus from all over Britain will converge at Southend-on-Sea to see the cermonial immersion in the sea. Hindus from all over the UK converged at Southend-on-Sea to see the ceremonial immersion in the sea.
The event is marked by fire rituals, dancing, devotional singing, and offerings of sanctified food. The event was marked by fire rituals, dancing, devotional singing, and offerings of sanctified food.
Organisers claim it is the largest immersion ceremony of Lord Ganesha, seen with the head of an elephant, outside India. Organisers claim it was one of the largest immersion ceremony of Lord Ganesha, seen with the head of an elephant, outside India.
The colourful festival is organised by the Jalaram Mandir in Greenford, the Hindu Association of Southend-on-Sea, and the Hindu Forum of Britain who all want it to become an annual event. The colourful festival was organised by the Jalaram Mandir in Greenford, the Hindu Association of Southend-on-Sea, and the Hindu Forum of Britain, who all want it to become an annual event.
The event begins with a procession at Shoeburyness seafront followed by the consecration ceremony in specially-erected marquees. The event began with a procession at Shoeburyness seafront followed by the consecration ceremony in specially-erected marquees.
This is only a beginning, and we expect it to grow in numbers and content every year Ramesh KallidaiThis is only a beginning, and we expect it to grow in numbers and content every year Ramesh Kallidai
One of the organisers Sanjay Mistry said "During the elaborate ritual called Yagna Hindu, priests place sanctified butter and other offerings into a holy fire. One of the organisers Sanjay Mistry said: "During the elaborate ritual called Yagna Hindu, priests placed sanctified butter and other offerings into a holy fire.
"This is followed by a ceremony called Garbha in which colourfully costumed women dance in a circle while clapping their hands. "This was followed by a ceremony called Garbha in which colourfully costumed women dance in a circle while clapping their hands.
"The final ritual sees the Deities of Ganesha taken out to the sea in a boat and immersed amidst chanting, singing and a shower of flower petals." "The final ritual saw the Deities of Ganesha taken out to the sea in a boat and immersed amidst chanting, singing and a shower of flower petals."
Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: "We have the support of several Hindu organisations around the country, and the demand for coaches has been overwhelming. Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said: "We have the support of several Hindu organisations around the country.
"As the largest immersion ceremony of this kind outside India, we can certainly see a spectacular show. This is only a beginning, and we expect it to grow in numbers and content every year." "As one of the largest immersion ceremonies of this kind outside India, we certainly saw a spectacular show. This is only a beginning, and we expect it to grow in numbers and content every year."