Hindu community honours Ganesh at Killucan event
Members of Ireland's Hindu community this weekend at Killucan held what is believed to be Ireland's first ever 'Ganesh Chaturthi' celebration.
A clay statue depicting the god Ganesha, which is represented as having an elephant head and is considered by Hindu adherents to be the lord of learning and letters, was brought to the lake at Derrymore Water Adventure Centre, just outside Killucan, for the ceremony.
There, a number of men brought the statue in to the water, where traditional rites were performed in front of a substantial crowd.
Vinnie (Vinaye) Mangal, a native of Mauritius, and his extended family arranged the two day festival, and it was friends and family who created the statue, which has been left to dissolve in the waters at Derrymore.
In preparation for the festival, which marks the deity's birthday, the Hindu community fasted, with total abstention from meat, fish, poultry, eggs and alcohol required.