Ganpati 2013

Pauline and I went on a Ganesh tour in south Mumbai today.  A guide took us to see some of the most notable Ganeshas.  I tried to listen to all the Mythology to relate it to you so here goes!  the stories differ somewhat, but I will go with what the guide told us.

Parvati wanted to take bath and had no one to stand guard so she created a son out of clay etc.  and gave him life.  She told him to let NO one in.  Her husband Shiva came back and tried to enter - neither the son nor the father knew each other so Ganesha wouldn't let Shiva in.  Shiva became so enraged he sliced Ganesh's head off which greatly upset Parvati.  Shiva said he'd replace the head with whatever living creature his arrow first hit - an elephant.  Parvati was afraid people would make fun of his son so Shiva blessed him to make him well liked and fun loving.  He is the god of wisdom and learning, as well as the remover of obstacles.  His big head represents wisdom, broken tusk shows that he is not all knowing, big belly shows happiness etc. His vehicle is a mouse and it is usually included with him. 

The other gods in Hinduism are always depicted in the same way, but there is a lot of flexibility with Ganesha - He can have a variety number of heads or hands.  He can be depicted in different settings etc.

Ganesha Chaturthi is the festival celebrating his birthday.  It lasts for 10 days.  lord Ganesha bestows his presence on earth and when his spirit leaves, his followers immerse him in water.  Most families or small neighborhoods have small Ganesh idols and immerse him early in the festival.  While the idol is with them they have to have a puja (blessing) everyday and you have to offer sweets and other things to him.  Many believe he is a guest and shouldn't be left alone so they stay up with him all night.  This is why small communities only keep him for a few days.  The bigger ones are sponsored by companies or whole streets and there are more people to pay for him and take care of him.  When India was under British rule, Indians weren't allowed to gather in large groups so they used the festival to communicate politics etc.   

There is a village about 200 km from Mumbai where they make small Ganeshas all year for this festival.  Labor there is $3.00 a day instead of $6.00.  The huge Ganeshas are made where they sit in Mumbai.  The small ones cost between $30 medium one up to $600 and the huge ones over $2000. 

They had a Krishna pyramid for fun

21 heads and 42 hands

all the big ones have little ones with it because it is easier for people to worship it and leave offerings

in a scene that Krishna normally would be in

you can't see it well due to the lights but this one is eco friendly and will dissolve in the water

this group won for best Ganesha last year.  there were lots of worshippers here

this one is made out of chikki - a type of food

There was a crazy story with this one.  A demon asked Shiva to make him immortal and Shiva said he couldn't so the demon thought of a way around it.  He asked Shiva to make it so he won't die during the day or night, not on land or water, not by human or animal, not by weapon etc.  This seemed like he'd get to be immortal.  Vishnu found a way around it.  He made himself half lion/half human so he wasn't animal or human.  He killed him at exactly twilight so it wasn't day or night.  He killed him on his lap so he wasn't on land or sea.  and he killed him with his lion claws so no weapon.

this is the smallest one - he's like a half inch tall

this one was the coolest one - made out of snakes!