Festival of dance: there were two days of celebrations at Croydon’s Ganesh Utsav
Croydon Mitra Mandal staged its Ganesh Utsav at Krishna Avanti Primary School at the weekend, a two-day festival filled with prayers, cultural performances and community activities.
The Ganesh festival, also known as Ganesh Chaturthi, is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals, dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings – and recognised by his elephant head and human body.
Observed by Hindus worldwide, the festival involves the installation of beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha in homes and public spaces, prayers, song and, finally, the Ganesh Visarjan – the immersion of the idol – symbolising the cycle of creation and renewal.
Model pupils: children at the festival were helped to mould figures of Ganesha from clay
The festival, staged at the primary school tucked alongside the Croydon Flyover on Southbridge Place, drew hundreds of people from Croydon and neighbouring areas, “uniting families, friends and well-wishers in devotion and cultural pride”.
Richard Chatterjee, the Conservative councillor who is this year’s ceremonial Mayor of Croydon, made a speech. The event does not appear to have attended by councillors from other political parties.
Stultifying: Croydon’s civic Mayor, Richard Chatterjee, read from his notes
The organisers said: “The Croydon Ganesh Utsav is more than a religious festival – it is a celebration of cultural heritage, harmony and togetherness.
“The event showcased the strength of Croydon’s Indian and British-Indian community.
“We are deeply grateful to all the devotees, volunteers, performers and special guests who joined us for Croydon Ganesh Utsav 2025.
“The energy, unity, and joy were truly heartwarming, and we look forward to making this celebration even bigger in the coming years.”
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