Members of the British Gujarati community are gathering this Saturday to mourn their loved ones who perished in the tragic Air India airline crash, which resulted in the loss of 241 lives, including 52 British citizens. The flight was headed to London from Ahmedabad, the capital of the Indian state of Gujarat, when it crashed seconds after takeoff. Authorities from both the UK and US are assisting Indian officials as investigations continue into what is being labeled the worst aviation disaster in a decade.
The connections between the UK and Ahmedabad are significant, with over 600,000 British Gujaratis currently residing in the country. Many members of the community arrived after fleeing Uganda during the 1970s, while others made their way from India in earlier decades. In Harrow, a major hub for British Gujaratis, the International Siddhashram Shakti Center is set to host a memorial service on Saturday afternoon. This interfaith event aims to include people of all backgrounds as they come together to honor the victims.
In Wembley, the Brent Indian Association will hold its own memorial at their headquarters, while various memorial services are taking place at Hindu temples, mosques, and churches around Britain. In Leicester, the city that is home to the flight's sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, family and friends mourn those lost, including Ramesh's brother, Ajay.
At the Shree Hindu Temple and Community Centre in Leicester, locals gathered to pray for the deceased, sharing their shock and grief throughout the community. Kishan Acharya, a local priest, noted the deep pain experienced by many, saying, “So many devotees came today, and the only thing that was in their mouth was about this air crash.” The community is still struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy and its impact.
The connections between the UK and Ahmedabad are significant, with over 600,000 British Gujaratis currently residing in the country. Many members of the community arrived after fleeing Uganda during the 1970s, while others made their way from India in earlier decades. In Harrow, a major hub for British Gujaratis, the International Siddhashram Shakti Center is set to host a memorial service on Saturday afternoon. This interfaith event aims to include people of all backgrounds as they come together to honor the victims.
In Wembley, the Brent Indian Association will hold its own memorial at their headquarters, while various memorial services are taking place at Hindu temples, mosques, and churches around Britain. In Leicester, the city that is home to the flight's sole survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, family and friends mourn those lost, including Ramesh's brother, Ajay.
At the Shree Hindu Temple and Community Centre in Leicester, locals gathered to pray for the deceased, sharing their shock and grief throughout the community. Kishan Acharya, a local priest, noted the deep pain experienced by many, saying, “So many devotees came today, and the only thing that was in their mouth was about this air crash.” The community is still struggling to comprehend the scale of the tragedy and its impact.
