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Thousands attend Hare Krishna festival

Thousands of people attended a colourful and rhythmic festival at a Hare Krishna temple today.

Forty years after the religious group moved into a manor house bought by the Beatle George Harrison, they celebrated with prayers, songs and ancient costumes.

Members of the Hare Krishna congregation take part in a holy hindu ritual called Yajna. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Vinay Tanna, a spokesman for Bhaktivedanta Manor, said: "Although it's been very cold, we have seen the best colours and thousands of people."

Hare Krishna priests pour sanctified offering of clarified butter into a sacred fire. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire/Press Association Images

The celebrations, which were timed to mark the start of spring, culminated with robed priests pouring clarified butter - called ghee - onto open fires in a ritual called a Yajna, and the guests throwing different colours at each other.

Two women greet each other during the holy hindu ritual. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Mr Tanna estimated around 10,000 people attended the festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor, near Radlett in Hertfordshire.