A HOUSING development in Wokingham was the venue for a special ritual to help residents mark Diwali.
David Wilson Homes, which is constructing Ashridge Grange on Warren House Road, welcomed members of the Royal Berkshire Bengali Association (RBBA) for a 16-step Lakshmi Puja ritual, led by its priest Jyoti Bhattacharya.
Also attending was Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Beth Rowland.
The event lasted 90 minutes and featured a number of blessings and offerings to Hindu goddess Lakshmi, with Mr Bhattacharya utilising flowers, foods and imagery.
Alex Dowling, head of sales and marketing at David Wilson Southern Counties, said: “Diwali is a festival that unites people from various cultures and backgrounds, reminding us of the importance of community and unity in our lives.
“By participating in this puja, we hope to usher in good fortune and abundance for the year ahead, and to share in the blessings of prosperity with our community here at Ashridge Grange and were pleased to see so many of our residents engage with the activity.”
And Jyoti said it had been a pleasure to take part in the ritual.
“It is incredibly significant at this time of the year, during one of the most celebrated and cherished festivals and we look forward to seeing residents at Ashridge Grange having a happy and prosperous year ahead.”
