A ‘river goddess’ will be gracing a festival in Reading with her presence this weekend.

The ‘River Goddess’, represented as a giant puppet, will be joining crowds at Reading Waterfest on Saturday, June 8.

The puppet has been created by artist Kim Kaos, who will be supported by members of the Extinction Rebellion Reading group, who will join in a ceremony of celebration and ‘thanks to the waters of this land’.

The group states: “Without water there is no life, and this is a great opportunity for people to participate in showing it their thanks.”

A water shrine will be created during the event and will welcome everyone’s blessings.

Visitors to Waterfest are invited to join in the ceremony and to bring water, (in a bottle or jar) from local streams, rivers, ponds, lakes or springs, to be added to the ceremonial waters. Those who do are asked to make a note of the name of the source of their water so it can be spoken at the event, maybe with a little more of its story.

People will be able to take some of the blessed water back to their local waters after the event to share the love and appreciation.

Extinction Rebellion Reading will be singing and assisting in the event which will start by the canal at 11am, with the water ceremony  taking place from 12.30 to 1pm and concluding from 2pm to 2.30pm.