Street procession marks Hindu king anniversary

Ravi Bikkannavar said it had taken a lot of effort to gather the right instruments for the procession

A procession complete with drums and flags has marked the 350th anniversary of the Hindu king.

The event - marking the day that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was formally crowned - included a procession through Ipswich, with food and performances at the Manor Ballroom.

The 16th Century king is still worshipped by millions of people of Indian heritage.

Ravi Bikkannavar, from the Ipswich Samaj, said: "A lot of volunteers have been preparing for this event for the last two or three months."

A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was carried to the event at the Manor Ballroom in Ipswich, and then back to the Ipswich Hindu Samaj

Suffolk's Hindu community host two large annual events, the summer Mela and the Holi festival.

This year the Mela is on the 7 July and has been incorporated into Ipswich Music Day for the first time.

Yogesh and Snehal Ugale have been in Suffolk for a year, coming to work in the IT sector around Martlesham

The distinctive orange turban worn by those celebrating is called a Marathi pheta and is particular to the Maharashtra region in India, the country's third largest.

Yogesh Ugale, and his wife Snehal, were both wearing them for the day.

He said: "It was fantastic, a great day for us, getting back to our roots and being together.

"We are a thousand miles away from our home country but it is very important for our kids to know where we came from and our history."

About 150 people attended the event.