India's best known actor, Amitabh Bachchan, walked barefoot for 15 km to pray at a famous Hindu temple in Mumbai on Tuesday, a spiritual trek his family usually makes during times of crises.
Bachchan and his actor-son Abhishek walked with folded hands from their home in the northern suburbs to a revered temple dedicated to the elephant-headed Hindu god, Ganesha, after midnight, witnesses said.
Bachchan's octogenarian mother is ill. The family has also visited several major temples, apparently to pray for Abhishek and his actress friend Aishwarya Rai, who reportedly want to marry but whose stars are not in harmony.
"They said special prayers before Lord Siddhivinayak in whom the family has immense faith," a priest at the temple told a local television channel, referring to one of the many names of Ganesha. The Bachchans did not speak to the media.
Despite the hour, scores of fans trailed the stars, who walked side-by-side amid heavy security.
After the four-and-a-half-hour walk, the 64-year-old actor and his family reached the temple and offered prayers, flowers and lit incense sticks as priests chanted hymns.
{{/usCountry}}After the four-and-a-half-hour walk, the 64-year-old actor and his family reached the temple and offered prayers, flowers and lit incense sticks as priests chanted hymns.
{{/usCountry}}Last year, after Bachchan recovered from a life-threatening surgery, the family made a similiar barefoot walk to the temple to thank Ganesha.