I had an incredible day yesterday experiencing Indian culture. Ganesha immersions are hard to enjoy in the city sometimes. It's loud and crazy and people are seriously intoxicated. I went with a few friends on a village tour to experience rural immersions. We got really early and met the tour guide at Bandra train station at 6:30 am. The village was a 3 hour drive away through beautiful countryside. The people in the village warmly welcomed us, gave us tea and invited us into their homes.
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| preparing lunch |
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| We had a great lunch! |
We got to go on an amazing trekking trip. It was wonderful to breathe in fresh air and not hear any horn honking. At the top of the "mountain" there was a temple and some pretty friendly monkeys.
We were supposed to participate in the immersion at the village, but they weren't going to start until late evening and we would get back into Mumbai around 11 or 12 and that would make it hard to go to school the next day. so we decided to leave early even though that was the reason we had gone. The guide had a plan B and said we would stop at a river on the way home and see some immersions there. I think plan B worked out better than plan A. We saw some great immersions!
I have a lot more pictures on facebook and here is some information on the celebration.
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations
Preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi- which marks the birth of the Lord Ganesh- begin up to ten days in advance, and sometimes even months in advance. In virtually every neighbourhood, a brightly decorated and painstakingly crafted Ganesh idol is made, to be illuminated and worshipped for all of the ten days leading up to Ganesh Chaturthi.
Grand pandals or stages are set up and filled with fresh flowers and the idols are dressed up in colourful clothes and glittering ornaments. There is keen competition to see which pandal has been most artistically decorated and sometimes there is even a prize for the best dressed idol!
On the day of the Ganesh festival itself, sweets - especially laddoos and sugary modaks, which are a favourite of the God's -- are distributed (and consumed) and Ganesh temples are crowded with devotees who participate in the worship of the deity.
When all the festivities are over, the idols which have been worshipped over the past ten days are taken out in a grand procession. During this procession the much-adored God is hoisted on willing shoulders, or rides in open trucks and carriages.
Accompanied by fireworks displays, beating drums and the sound of thousands of voices singing devotional songs, the idols are ritually immersed in a nearby sea, lake or river. The immersion ceremony, which is known as the 'visarjan', marks the end of the festivities. The people dance with great enthusiasm and singing rents the air, urging the god to return post haste the next year.
"Ganpati bapa, mouriya! Pudcha varshi, laukar ya!" Hail Lord Ganesha, please return soon next year.
The fervour with which devotees celebrate the birthday of their most loved deity – Lord Ganesha suggests the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi in their lives. According to the popular belief, Lord Ganesha descends on the earth on Ganesh Chaturthi to stay with his devotees for the course of ten days and clear all their obstacles. In return devotees pamper their beloved Lord Ganesha as an honoured guest and prepare his favourite sweets – modaks.
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