Monkey God meets Monkey King at Hong Kong's Hanuman Carnival

Hindu culture and customs will go on colourful display in Central on Thursday.

The Hong Kong Chinmaya Foundation (HKCF) is staging the first Hanuman carnival in Hong Kong, on the Dragon Boat Festival public holiday, at the Central Harbourfront Event Space.

What the Hanuman Carnival@Central Harbourfront Summerfest lacks in the catchy name department, it will make up for with interactive games, live entertainment, storytelling, vegetarian food and yoga.

Hanuman, the Monkey God, is one of the most recognisable Hindu deities. Throughout South and Southeast Asia, there are many variations on the myths and legends of Hanuman, who is often depicted as a man with a simian face. These stories will be incorporated into the free games and activities at the carnival.

As 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, the event will also pay homage to the Chinese Monkey King, Sun Wukong.

"It's really a celebration of togetherness," says spiritual teacher Swamini Supriyananda, who trained at the Chinmaya Mission in India. "Hanuman is the perfect role model for kids: he's brave, strong and noble … and it's the Year of the Monkey, a perfect time to bring different cultures together in the city."

And yogis take note: the Mindfulness Yoga Festival will run alongside the carnival, with hundreds of people expected to perform 108 sun salutations, 108 mantra chants and 1,008 seconds of guided meditation.

Visitors can also feast on vegetarian dishes from famous Hong Kong restaurants and spend at the Shopping Village.

The HKCF is a registered charity and part of the Chinmaya Mission, a Hindu spiritual organisation with more than 320 branches in 25 countries. Its mission is to share the wisdom of ancient Hindu scriptures to enable people to become more positive contributors to society.

The foundation, which has been active in Hong Kong for 25 years, runs regular classes on spiritual development and Hindu scriptures for adults and children. Its members also engage in community service activities throughout the city.

The carnival will be held from noon to 7pm on Thursday and entry is free.