YOUNGSTERS STEP OUT TO HELP CENTRE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Dhamesvari Kathrani and Dhani Gajjar, both six

Youngsters step out to help centre

Youngsters dressed as Hindu gods walked, skipped and scooted around the city's Town Hall Square on Saturday.

The money from their sponsored walk will help pay for the renovation of the former HSBC Bank in Granby Street, bought by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) group.

The children made their way around the block 11 times, in a symbolic gesture of circling a place of pilgrimage.

The route began at the building's Granby Street entrance, up Bishop Street, by Town Hall Square, down Horsefair Street, and back to the entrance on Granby Street.

Temple President Pradyumna Das said: "It's lovely to see children and their parents come together to make their own valuable contribution to this very important project.

"The centre will not only help educate them, but is a great facility for their future. The site is perfect as a community hub."

The money raised will help transform the grade II*-listed heritage property, considered a jewel of Victorian architecture.