Hamm (NRW) – Thousands of believers from the Hindu community of Hamm celebrated the highest festival of the Sri Kamadchi Ampal temple on Sunday in a colorful and very peaceful way.

The celebration is the culmination of a two-week festival at the second largest Hindu temple in Europe. The statue of Goddess Kamadchi is carried around the temple in procession. About 8,000 believers dressed in bright colors accompanied them with flowers and songs. Many came from all over Europe especially for the Hamm-Uentrop festival in the Eastern Ruhr area.

Just like Rico Brauns (23) from Hamburg and his partner Nelya Vimalan (22) from Stade. The business administration student and future bank clerk arrived on Sunday with their entire family. “It’s a very important festival for us, that’s why we are here almost every year,” says the 23-year-old.

Nelya had a beautiful dress sewn by her grandmother: “The atmosphere is really nice here, because we are all a big religious community. It’s great to see everyone together.”

Only about 300 Hindus live in the Hamm area itself. But due to its prominent temple, the city of 180,000 is one of the most important centers for Hindus in Europe.

Hinduism has an almost unlimited number of deities – universal rulers responsible for all aspects of life: fertility, health, wealth, power, death.

The festival took place calmly and without major incidents. Non-Hindus were also welcome. Many visitors had mingled with the happy people.

The city canal becomes the Ganges

On Monday, a ritual ablution will take place in the Datteln-Hamm canal, under the A2 motorway bridge near Hamm. Bathing in the canal (similar to the Ganges in India) is said to have a purifying effect on the soul after the blessing of the Hindu priest.