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LONDON, ENGLAND, October 17, 2006: The Hindu Culture and Heritage Society (HCHS), in association with Hindu Council UK and the London Fire Brigade, celebrated the Ganesha Chaturthi Festival for the second successive year outside India with stunning success on Sunday, October 8, 2006, in Southall West London. On October 5, 6 and 7 Lord Ganesha was worshipped followed by kirtan, arti and prasadam. Additionally, on the 7th there were religious singers from Coventry and Slough who performed in the presence of hundreds of devotees. On October 8, the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society successfully brought various faith communities and leaders from 15 different religious, social and political organizations together on one platform. Everyone offered prayers in their own traditions for peace and harmony in today’s world. Following the religious rituals and cultural entertainment, the Shobha Yatra (Procession) began and was led by the soldiers from the Ministry of Defense (MOD) followed by the Kirtan Mandali. Ganesha’s mile-long procession even included the London Fire Brigade’s decorated engine. Temples, Gurudwaras, the London Fire Brigade and Southall restaurants had food stalls for the hungry along the parade route. At 2:30 pm, the Ganesha began moving towards Putney Pier and was immersed in the Thames with much devotion and song. Mr. Anil Bharnot, Managing Director of the Hindu Council UK summed up the festival by saying, “I am very happy to be associated with the Ganesha Chaturthi Function and we shall make it much bigger in the coming years, in the same spirit of multiculturalism.”

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