CROWDS JOIN CELEBRATIONS FOR KRISHNA

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Crowds join celebrations for Krishna

Chanting and dancing marked the birthday of supreme Hindu god Lord Krishna.

The birth of the deity, who lived about 5,000 years ago, was celebrated in dozens of temples and homes across the county at midnight last night.

At the new Shreeji Dham Haveli temple in Rushey Mead, Leicester, devotees prayed and fasted all day and then broke open a "matki" containing butter and milk as an offering to the god before breaking their fast with a feast.

Six-year-old Nandani Kachela, from the Belgrave area of Leicester, was among about 900 people who visited the temple yesterday.

She said: "The birthday of Lord Krishna is always fun and people chant and later we all go outside and have lots of nice food."

Kirit Shah, 54, of Stoneygate, Leicester, said: "It's the biggest day for us and it is very special to know this day is being celebrated all over the world and to feel part of such an important event."

Kalpna Gokani, 37, from Wigston, was at the temple with her three-year-old son, Rian, and her mother and aunt.

She said: "I come here often because there's lots going on and my mother and aunt practically live here. Last year, I celebrated this day at home, but it's lovely to be able to come here this year because it's a wonderful new temple. It's a place where you can feel at peace and a lovely space to come and celebrate this fun occasion."My son is very excited and it's a wonderful time for us – it is a very colourful and enjoyable celebration."

Nitin Saujani, a trustee of the temple, said Lord Krishna's birthday would be celebrated at temples and homes across Leicester.

He said: "This is the biggest day for us. Krishna is the supreme god in Hinduism.

"There are hundreds of gods but Krishna is the main one.

"Diwali is like our Christmas – it's the festival of light and a very big celebration – but this is the most important religious day."

The Shreeji Dham Haveli temple in Leicester is the biggest temple of the Haveli sect of Hinduism in Europe.

The differences between the Haveli sect and mainstream Hindus are so slight many who are not members of the sect still worship at the Rushey Mead temple.

The Haveli sect focus more on certain writings than other Hindus.

The temple, in Melton Road, Rushey Mead, used to be the Royale Cars showroom and the trust that now owns the building plans to add a library, computer room and dining area.

The latest census figures available show there were 41,000 Hindus living in Leicester in 2001.