Ganesha Festival

The Hindus in the city have been celebrating the Ganesha Festival so I took a tour to visit the sites. 

Most Ganesha temples around the city are about this size, with small statues of Ganesha and other Hindu gods that people can stop by, say a prayer, leave and offering, or ask for a blessing.

Ganesha is a very popular god in Hinduism as he is the remover of obstacles, the lord of success, and the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.

Ganesha is the son of the goddess Parvati. She created him one afternoon out of sandalwood and clay and breathed life into him, then set the boy to the task of guarding the door while she took a bath. Shiva, Parvati's husband then came and demanded to enter, but Ganesha, not knowing him refused. Shiva became enraged, Ganesha killed some of his soldiers and Shiva cut off the boy's head. When Parvati saw this, she commanded Shiva to replace his head, and he did so with that of an elephant. 

Each Hindu home, creates a small clay Ganesha in their home and his spirit is invited to reside in it. As he is then the guest of honor, the whole family celebrates and attends to him while he is in their home. After so many days, 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or 10, they take the clay Ganesha to the sea and immerse him in the water, and say farewell to their guest. Localities, on the other hand, hold contests for businesses and political figures to enter their Ganesha and invite the public to view and celebrate. So as you enter the block, there are enormous temporary decorations hanging to make a grand entrance. Along the street, lights are hung and lit up each night of the festival. Fireworks are lit and bands (mostly drumming) or DJ's are hired to blast the latest popular songs.

Faux facades create the illusion of an enormous temple, shoes are removed, and you walk along a red carpet to the Ganesha inside.

Inside, people come to see Ganesha, to say a prayer, leave an offering or ask for a blessing. This Ganesha was enormous. As Ganesha's spirit resides in the statue, he is never left alone. People take turns staying with him, attending to him, and here, placing their offerings on him.

All the large Ganesha statues are accompanied by a smaller one. Prayers are said to the smaller one that resides in the temple always.

All the large Ganesha statues are accompanied by a smaller one. Prayers are said to the smaller one that resides in the temple always.

This Ganesha was my favorite as it is made entirely out of dice and game pieces.