Kate joins Hindu worshippers in dance at temple

The barefoot Princess of Wales danced with Hindus who visited her temples to learn about religion and culture.

Kate was first adorned with flowers and a light-coloured bindi pressed between her eyes before joining the all-female group dancing the traditional garba in front of a statue of the Hindu god Lord Krishna.

The future Queen spent the day in Leicester touring the Shreeji Dham Haveli Hindu Temple and visiting award-winning choreographer Aakash Odedra’s dance company in the city.

When Kate was presented with a red rose after the group’s performance, she said: “My children would love it, they love their dancing.”

She had the chance to dance garba in a circle at a Hindu temple, and as the women circled, their faces turned left, then right, over and over again.

Mayur Kachela, of the temple’s executive committee, hosted the visit and joked afterwards that the royal guest didn’t need much convincing, when asked if he wanted to join he replied, “Oh, go ahead then.”

Kachela said Kate’s move was “absolutely surprising”, adding: “This visit means so much. “There is not one faith, one religion out there; there are many faiths and religions.

“It means a lot for someone of this importance and prominence to come and try to understand and accept what we are doing here.”

“Thank you so much for having me, I feel so lucky to have been invited,” Kate said to Kachela when she first arrived.

She followed tradition and took off her high-heeled shoes before entering the temple and met volunteer worshipers who were making garlands of rose petals.

He also made an offering to Krishna by pouring a small amount of milk of the god’s choice, before walking around a large symbolic model of a mountain on which the god appeared.

She was gifted a sari and a golden scarf before an impromptu vegetarian lunch of samosas, pilau rice and salad served free to devotees.