A potato that resembles a Hindu god has brought worshippers flocking to a city temple.
Scores of people have so far seen the vegetable, which is in the shape of elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesh.
The potato is being displayed next to a 9ft statue of the Hindu god at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, in Harrison Road, Belgrave, as part of a religious festival.
Vinod Patel, organiser of the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, said: "This potato is a miracle. It is a sign from Lord Ganesh that what we are doing is right. It is a blessing from him."
Vinod said the potato was discovered by volunteer Jasvanti Varia yesterday as she prepared to make a potato curry to help feed the worshippers.
Jasvanti, of Hamilton, Leicester, said: "I put my hand into a 25kg bag of potatoes and pulled this one out.
"I looked down and saw it resembled Lord Ganesh. I was not sure about what I was seeing so I asked other people in the kitchen and they agreed with me.
"I feel very special to have been chosen to be the one who found it.
"Myself and my family have already prayed to the statue but now we are making sure we pay our respects to the new image of Lord Ganesh."
Vinod said the festival, which marks the birthday of Ganesh, worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, was due to end today, but was being extended.
He said: "We cannot ignore what has happened here.
"We feel we have to keep the statue and potato here to allow people to pay their respects."
Vanita Patel, of Groby, said she had heard about the potato and made a special trip to the temple. She said: "It is truly a miracle and a very positive sign. Good things should come now."
Shailesh Patel, of Belgrave, said he had paid his respects to the new image of Lord Ganesh.
He said: "It is remarkable and undeniable. I am glad I am able to pray here."
After the end of the festival, due to finish on Friday, the statue and the potato will be immersed into the water at Clacton-on-Sea, to symbolise Ganesh's return to his parents and spiritual home.
Vinod said he believed the 9ft statue of Ganesh was the biggest in the country.
"By the end of the festival, we estimate up to 50,000 people will have been here to give their prayers," he said.
In May, more than 80 people visited a small temple at a catering company in Leicester, where an aubergine that resembled Lord Ganesh was discovered. Praful Visram, owner of 4 Seasons Catering, in Buckland Road, Northfields, placed the vegetable in a small temple he had at work for staff to pray in.
