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She has been at the Clock Tower every day at the same time, come rain or shine for the past five years, but not since lockdown.

Joshi Minakshi, who is known by the Granby Street temple as Minesi Gopika, chants 'Hare Krishna' at the Clock Tower in Leicester city centre for three hours every day, seven days a week.

Since lockdown, she has turned to social media to distribute her message.

Before she retired, 64-year-old Minesi used to be a computer science lecturer. Nowadays, she still keeps very busy. She teaches twice a week, works as a volunteer in the prison chaplaincy service, jogs for one hour every day and still finds time to do her chanting.

When asked why she chants at the clock tower, she said "Krishna came and gave us instructions to distribute the holy name of Hare Krishna.

"Singing is beneficial and very powerful, it elevates our consciousness, purifies our mind, body and soul.

(Image: Minesi Gopika)

"I do it for the benefit of purification and eternal happiness. Prayers are very powerful, particularly during this time.

"Many people approach me whilst I'm at the Clock Tower, I've met people from Texas and Afghanistan and all over the world."

"Hare Krishna connects us, it's so beneficial."

A group of girls from a local dance college came to talk to her and dance whilst she chanted in the city centre at the beginning of last month.

They suggested she post on Instagram, helped her to set the account up and she went live on a rainy day on March 5.

Since then, Minesi has posted nearly every day on the account. And when the UK went into lockdown, she started posting a live video every day at 2pm.

Her Instagram page has gained the interest of over 600 followers, and the numbers are growing. After each live video, Minesi posts them to story so that people can watch over the following 24 hours.

She said "People are locked in homes and don't have anyone to talk to. This is a way of making them feel energised."

"It connects us. It's so beneficial. We all want to be happy and our minds at peace.

"I was born with the chanting, I chant in the temple and at home. Because of lockdown, I couldn't continue, so my endeavour was to find a way to carry on from home."

Minesi explains that Hare is the internal energy, whilst Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

For those that don't know, there are 16 rounds in the Hare Krishna beat, and the chant is as follows:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama Hare Hare

Follow Minesi on Instagram @minesigopika