One sees whatever one wants
to see – anywhere, everywhere.
Ganesh Chathurthi is a very
popular festival across the Country. Ganapathi, Vinayakar, Vigneshwarar –
in various forms is celebrated in Temples, households and in Pandals made
by groups where the idol of Vinayaka is kept, worshipped and then immersed in
river / sea and water after worship. In Mumbai, there are many Pandals –
put up by local Organisations with ornately made Ganesha idols. Lalbaugcha Raja
is one of the most popular ones. The
idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on
the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi.
This Ganesha
reportedly attracts lakhs of devotees
every day. It is believed that this Idol
of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (fulfiller of all wishes). This popular Ganesha is hosted by Sarvajanik
Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug, founded in 1934 at Lalbaug. Lalbaug lies in the approximate centre of Mumbai,
near Dadar and Parel, and has been a famous centre for reunions of Hindus
during their festivals, especially the Ganesh festival.
பிள்ளையார் பிள்ளையார் ~ பெருமை வாய்ந்த பிள்ளையார்!
ஆற்றங்கரையின் ஓரத்திலே; அரசமரத்தின் நிழலிலே
வீற்றிருக்கும் பிள்ளையார்; வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் பிள்ளையார்!
Today 13th Sept
2018 is Ganesh Chaturthi…. Vinayaka Chathurthi has been celebrated in Tamilnadu
as also in the rest of the country with gay and gaiety. Lord Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god
of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the
beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel.
In mid 1980s, installing
huge Vinayaka idols in many public places, religious worship for ten days and
visarjanam were being conducted in a big manner ~ after a couple of incidents,
the then rulers banned passing of procession in the Triplicane High Road citing
law and order issues and now a days, the procession has shrunk ……. Those days,
there would be hundreds of Vinayakas big and small installed at each street and
the idol procession would unwind through narrow lanes of triplicane, with
enthusiastic crowds singing bajans and songs extolling Ganesha. In the early
1990s there were close to 5000 idols from all parts of Chennai assembling
nearer Thiruvateeswaranpet and then the procession concluding near Thilagar
Thidal in Marina beach.
Many persons who were
earlier organizing such pandal now state that there has been too much of
pressure and hassles in obtaining permission, installation and conduct of
visarjanam. Nearer Thiruvatteewarar koil
in Triplicane, there used to be very huge idols of Vinayakar touching 32 feet
which had to be scaled down to many reasons ~ important one being the
construction of MRTS and the overhead bridge restricting the height.
This year too there have
been so many restrictions and Hindu Munnani resorted to protests including
peaceful abstinence from food ~ yet, despite so many pressures, today
could observe many pandals with beautiful Vinayaka idols. Police have
instructed members of Hindu Munnani and other organisations that have installed
Ganesh idols to follow stringent rules while conducting the festival.
Sowcarpet area in
Chennai has huge sprinkling of
Rajasthani and North Indian population and here Ganesh Chathurthi is celebrated
with great religious fervour. The
pandals are tastefully decorated and richly made. Here are some photos of
Vinayaka in different forms (taken in Triplicane and in Sowcarpet)
Vinayaka in different forms (taken in Triplicane and in Sowcarpet)
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar.
13th Sept. 2018
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