Ganesh organisers defend Valencia River immersion

THE Shri Siddhi Vinayak Organisation and the Vishwanath Hindu Social and Cultural Organisation have defended their observation of the 37th Ganesh Utsav festival at the Valencia River on Sunday, after a social media post claimed the site was left polluted following the event.

The post, which objected to murtis left in the river, stated that people were unable to bathe at the location after the event, and posted the words, “When faith pollutes” and “Hindus can do better than this.”

However, Pundit Doodnath Rampersad, the spiritual head of the Vishwanath Hindu Social and Cultural Organisation, told the Express yesterday that everything was conducted to the best of his ability, and done in the right way, with the relevant permissions obtained. He said that the area was left better than it was met, and everything was well orchestrated. “I will continue to maintain the respect of nature,” he added.