From Mannagudda with love to UK

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 01 Sep 2011: Indians in the United Kingdom celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi every year. But what makes the festival at Wrexham in North Wales different is that the Ganesha idol installed at Wrexham Memorial Hall is made by 81-year-old sculptor Prabhakar Rao, from Mangalore.

 

Summilan Cultural Association, a union of about 50 Indian families living in North Wales, Chester and Wirral regions, have been celebrating the festival from last year.

 

Association treasurer Srisha Shenoy, who is a consultant anaesthetic in Wrexham, comes to Mangalore every year -- to be part of Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations and to take a Ganesha idol made by Prabhakar Rao to the UK.

 

Speaking to Dr Srisha said that the main objective of organizing the festival in the UK is to promote harmony and Indian culture.

 

Srisha prefers buying the idol only from Prabhakar Rao because like Rao he too grew up in Mannagudda. "When I was a child, I used to spend a lot of time watching Prabhakar Rao and his brothers making the Ganesha idols. I used to be part of the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations here. So, I thought it would be right to take the idol from here," he said.

 

Srisha will leave for the UK on September 9, and the festival will be held on September 11 at Wrexham Memorial Hall at Bodhyfryd in Wrexham. The deputy mayor of North Wales is expected to participate.

TNN