Hindu women gathered in their hundreds to celebrate a religious festival with Stephen Timms MP last week.

Newham Recorder: Hindu women making an offering for Pongala.Hindu women making an offering for Pongala. (Image: Archant)

Cllr Omana Gangadharan, who organised the event with women from nearby temples, claimed it was the largest gathering of women for the festival in Newham in the last six years.

Mr Timms, shadow employment minister and MP for East Ham, dropped by to meet the constituents at the Sri Murugan temple on Church Road, Manor Park, where he got into the spirit in traditional dress to greet the temple president and priest.

Pongala, meaning “to boil over”, was held to co-incide with the festival in India where, traditionally, Hindu women make an offering of porridge, rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins.