Latest news with #RajrajeshwarGuruji
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- General
- Straits Times
‘In shock': British Indians mourn Air India crash victims at London vigil
Women praying during a vigil at the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre in London, in memory of those who lost their lives in the Air India crash. PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON - Dozens of members of Britain's Indian community gathered at a Hindu temple in London on June 14 for a vigil mourning the victims of this week's Air India crash, many of whom had personal connections to the temple. Leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Zoroastrian and other communities offered their prayers, as those in attendance, hands folded, recited chants. A representative of Britain's King Charles read out a message from him and offered Christian prayers. Mr Rajrajeshwar Guruji, head of the Siddhashram Hindu temple in Harrow, likened the grief of those who lost family members in the crash of the London-bound flight to the wait for a loved one's return from an endless journey. 'They're just waiting and waiting, now they are not going to come back again,' he said in an interview. Mr Guruji, who comes from the state of Gujarat where the plane crashed, said the temple had helped family members in Britain get information about their loved ones. 'Some of the members... I have spoken to them, and... they don't have the words,' he said. 'They are in shock.' Britain has one of the largest Indian communities outside India, with nearly 1.69 million people - or 3.1 per cent of the population - identifying as ethnically Indian. 'We believe that everyone who is born has to go one day. But I hope nobody goes the way these... passengers, as well as the medical students, have gone,' said Harrow Mayor Anjana Patel, who lost a family member. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived the crash, while others were killed when the plane struck a medical college's hostel. Ms Patel told Reuters that the council was offering grief counselling. 'We just cannot bear how people must be feeling,' she said. Ms Jyotsna Shukla, 66, said her son's childhood friend was on the plane with his wife and three children. 'I feel very bad because he was so young,' she said, before breaking down into tears. Among those killed was Mr Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister of Gujarat, who had visited the temple. REUTERS Worshippers attending a memorial service for the crash victims at Neasden Temple, in north-west London, on June 13. PHOTO: AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
'In shock': British Indians mourn crash victims at London vigil
By Muvija M LONDON (Reuters) -Dozens of members of Britain's Indian community gathered at a Hindu temple in London on Saturday for a vigil mourning the victims of this week's Air India crash, many of whom had personal connections to the temple. Leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Zoroastrian and other communities offered their prayers, as those in attendance, hands folded, recited chants. A representative of Britain's King Charles read out a message from him and offered Christian prayers. Rajrajeshwar Guruji, head of the Siddhashram Hindu temple in Harrow, likened the grief of those who lost family members in the crash of the London-bound flight to the wait for a loved one's return from an endless journey. "They're just waiting and waiting, now they are not going to come back again," he said in an interview. Guruji, who comes from the state of Gujarat where the plane crashed, said the temple had helped family members in Britain get information about their loved ones. "Some of the members ... I have spoken to them, and ... they don't have the words," he said. "They are in shock." Britain has one of the largest Indian communities outside India, with nearly 1.69 million people - or 3.1% of the population - identifying as ethnically Indian. "We believe that everyone who is born has to go one day. But I hope nobody goes the way these ... passengers, as well as the medical students, have gone," said Harrow Mayor Anjana Patel, who lost a family member. Only one of the 242 passengers and crew on board survived the crash, while others were killed when the plane struck a medical college's hostel. Patel told Reuters that the council was offering grief counselling. "We just cannot bear how people must be feeling," she said. Jyotsna Shukla, 66, said her son's childhood friend was on the plane with his wife and three children. "I feel very bad because he was so young," she said, before breaking down into tears. Among those killed was Vijay Rupani, a former chief minister of Gujarat, who had visited the temple.
North Wales Chronicle
a day ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Couple killed in Air India crash had already lost pilot son in earlier tragedy
Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, said the couple had been returning from a religious celebration in India when the flight went down. Their son, a pilot, had died in a crash in France several years earlier. 'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' Mr Guruji, 53, said. 'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.' The spiritual leader said he personally knew 20 people who were killed in the crash, all members of the Hindu community who had worshipped at his temple over the years. The father-of-three had last spoken to some of the victims as recently as two weeks ago. Most were aged over 40 and had been travelling either to visit elderly relatives in India or to take part in religious events. Others had adult children studying at university in the UK and were returning from extended visits. 'This is the most shocking news we have ever experienced in the temple's 25-year history,' Mr Guruji said. He said the community was united in grief and urged the airline to explain how such a tragedy could have happened. 'We want answers from the airline,' he said. 'They were travelling by plane, they weren't travelling by car.' Discussing the pain felt among the Hindu community in Harrow, he said: 'It can't be described. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more. 'When we ask people how they are, everyone knows they are sad – there is nothing more to say. 'This kind of death is different.' The temple's focus now, he said, was offering moral support and regular prayers. An interfaith service is due to be held on Saturday afternoon, with Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders taking part in candlelit prayers for the victims. Mr Guruji said the Gatwick-to-Ahmedabad route was popular in the community. 'This is the time of year people usually come from India to the UK because of the rainy season there,' he said. He added that the crash had left the wider community in a state of shock, describing it as a 'pause' while people wait to understand what happened. Mr Guruji also confirmed he knew the family of the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, and planned to travel to his hometown of Leicester on Sunday to offer support.
Leader Live
a day ago
- General
- Leader Live
Couple killed in Air India crash had already lost pilot son in earlier tragedy
Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, said the couple had been returning from a religious celebration in India when the flight went down. Their son, a pilot, had died in a crash in France several years earlier. 'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' Mr Guruji, 53, said. 'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.' The spiritual leader said he personally knew 20 people who were killed in the crash, all members of the Hindu community who had worshipped at his temple over the years. The father-of-three had last spoken to some of the victims as recently as two weeks ago. Most were aged over 40 and had been travelling either to visit elderly relatives in India or to take part in religious events. Others had adult children studying at university in the UK and were returning from extended visits. 'This is the most shocking news we have ever experienced in the temple's 25-year history,' Mr Guruji said. He said the community was united in grief and urged the airline to explain how such a tragedy could have happened. 'We want answers from the airline,' he said. 'They were travelling by plane, they weren't travelling by car.' Discussing the pain felt among the Hindu community in Harrow, he said: 'It can't be described. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more. 'When we ask people how they are, everyone knows they are sad – there is nothing more to say. 'This kind of death is different.' The temple's focus now, he said, was offering moral support and regular prayers. An interfaith service is due to be held on Saturday afternoon, with Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders taking part in candlelit prayers for the victims. Mr Guruji said the Gatwick-to-Ahmedabad route was popular in the community. 'This is the time of year people usually come from India to the UK because of the rainy season there,' he said. He added that the crash had left the wider community in a state of shock, describing it as a 'pause' while people wait to understand what happened. Mr Guruji also confirmed he knew the family of the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, and planned to travel to his hometown of Leicester on Sunday to offer support.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Couple killed in Air India crash had already lost pilot son in earlier tragedy
Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who leads the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, said the couple had been returning from a religious celebration in India when the flight went down. Their son, a pilot, had died in a crash in France several years earlier. 'This couple had gone to India for a religious celebration – they were coming back and now this has happened,' Mr Guruji, 53, said. 'After what has happened to their son as well – it's just terrible to think about.' The spiritual leader said he personally knew 20 people who were killed in the crash, all members of the Hindu community who had worshipped at his temple over the years. The father-of-three had last spoken to some of the victims as recently as two weeks ago. Most were aged over 40 and had been travelling either to visit elderly relatives in India or to take part in religious events. Others had adult children studying at university in the UK and were returning from extended visits. 'This is the most shocking news we have ever experienced in the temple's 25-year history,' Mr Guruji said. He said the community was united in grief and urged the airline to explain how such a tragedy could have happened. 'We want answers from the airline,' he said. 'They were travelling by plane, they weren't travelling by car.' Discussing the pain felt among the Hindu community in Harrow, he said: 'It can't be described. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more. 'When we ask people how they are, everyone knows they are sad – there is nothing more to say. 'This kind of death is different.' The temple's focus now, he said, was offering moral support and regular prayers. An interfaith service is due to be held on Saturday afternoon, with Hindu, Muslim and Christian leaders taking part in candlelit prayers for the victims. Mr Guruji said the Gatwick-to-Ahmedabad route was popular in the community. 'This is the time of year people usually come from India to the UK because of the rainy season there,' he said. He added that the crash had left the wider community in a state of shock, describing it as a 'pause' while people wait to understand what happened. Mr Guruji also confirmed he knew the family of the sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, and planned to travel to his hometown of Leicester on Sunday to offer support.
