Thousands of people are celebrating a major Hindu festival in central London.

The Rath Yatra was first brought to London in 1968 and has grown into the largest annual Hindu procession outside India.

In India it is a 5,000-year-old event, which commemorates the Indian god Krishna and is held annually in the Indian city of Puri.

The procession marks the way Krishna, in his form of Lord Jagannath, makes an annual visit to his birthplace.

 

Colourful festival goers added to the spectacle

The organisers, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, hope it will one day surpass Notting Hill as London's most popular carnival.

Spokesman Ramesh Kallidai said it was a great fun day out for all the family.

"The magic is that 364 days of the year you go to a temple to worship the Lord. On that day the Lord comes out to see you," he said.

Highlight of the day are thousands of people pulling a 50ft chariot - while chanting "Hare Krishna" - from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square.

There devotees will place consecrated images of Lord Jagannath, a form of Krishna, at the base of Nelson's Column.

Organisers say they will then give a free meal to everyone attending the festival.

Colourful floats, musicians, dancers, costumed artists, bullock carts, stalls, music and plays are among the other attractions.