More than 55,000 people are expected to descend on an Aldenham temple this week in celebration of a Hare Krishna festival.

The pilgrims and guests will be visiting Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, on Thursday and Sunday, to celebrate Janmashtami, the birth of Krishna.

The festival is the largest of its kind in the world outside of India and the temple kitchens will be working 24 hours a day to prepare free vegetarian food for all of the guests.

As part of the celebrations, 1,000 children will dress like Krishna by having their faces painted blue, carrying flutes and wearing peacock feathers in their hair.

A flowered walkway through the temple gardens will also be prepared so followers can “journey through the life and past times” of Krishna, believed to be the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.

Srutidharma Das, Temple President said: “I am looking forward to seeing the happy faces of so many children at the festival. The event is the show piece of our devotion to Lord Krishna and that of 1,500 volunteers who have helped to make it such a success every year.

“With creativity and devotion, our volunteers have strived to produce yet again something different and spectacular. I am sure all our pilgrims and visitors who come will be uplifted spiritually.”