My favourite festival of the year is on at the moment in Mumbai — Ganesh Chaturthi. This 11 day festival honours the birth of Lord Ganesh. Worshipped for his ability to remove obstacles, he’s one of India’s most popular and much loved gods.
Ganesh Chaturthi commences with a great deal of fanfare. Huge statues of Lord Ganesh are placed on podiums inside beautifully decorated tents (called pandals) all over the city. Chanting, music, and dancing fill the streets. It’s magical to enter the tents, and feel the energy in there. I find it very powerful and uplifting. It’s even cured me of a headache!
On Sunday, the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi, I joined the crowds and went pandal hopping. Here are some photos of the captivating displays.
An eye catching statue of Lord Ganesh.
This statue was illuminated with soothing blue lighting.
A bright Lord Ganesh with painted scenery background.
A rather imposing statue of Lord Ganesh.
Small statues of Lord Ganesh draped in flowers.
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Great pictures! It so makes me want to be there right now. I suppose there is a lot more festivity in Bombay than in the South though there is a fair amount of chanting and dancing in Bangalore where I hail from as well. I do not like the drunk brawls however that sometimes ensue when people go to immerse the idols. Btw, do you keep it at home as well? What do you folks do for immersion?
Hey Sharell
Awesome pics yaar.
“”Ganesh Chaturthi commences with a great deal of fanfare. Huge statues of Lord Ganesh are placed on podiums inside beautifully decorated tents (called pandals) all over the city. Chanting, music, and dancing fill the streets. It’s magical to enter the tents, and feel the energy in there. I find it very powerful and uplifting. It’s even cured me of a headache!”"
Thats how i would define Durga Puja celebrations.
One question:
Did you pray with folded hands to Lord Ganesha??????????
Thanks for sharing these pics. Someday i wanna be in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi.
Oooh, I’ll have to look out for the drunk brawls! They sound really appalling. Hope they don’t happen in Mumbai as well. In Mumbai, most people immerse their Ganpattis in the ocean — Marine Drive/Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu. Most processions end up there. Personally, we don’t keep a Ganpatti in the house, and neither do my in-laws. My husband and I are a bit too irresponsible to take care of Ganpatti properly, and we wouldn’t quite know what to do anyway! Sadly, festivities are a lot more subdued here this year because of swine flu, but seeing all the pandals is still a wonderful experience.
Glad you like the pics, Ronny!
Actually, I never pray with folded hands to any God. Hands are always pointed. Should they be folded?
Someday, I wanna be in Kolkata during Durga Puja!!!!
“‘Hands are always pointed. Should they be folded?”‘
Better fold them next time girl.
You are an “Indian housewife now”….
So are the streets very crowded????
“”Actually, I never pray with folded hands to any God. Hands are always pointed.”"
Anyways, i am sure Gods love to get “pointed” out by a beautiful girl like u……
LOL………..so no worries………
Seriously, I’m too scared to pray half the time cos I’m sure I’m making some mistake!! God is just going to have to accept me how I am (and hopefully let me get away with it if He thinks I’m pretty enough!).
The streets are surprisingly uncrowded. I swear the swine flu is keeping everyone in doors. Maybe the streets will become more chaotic when the immersions start happening.
Hey Sharell
“”Seriously, I’m too scared to pray half the time cos I’m sure I’m making some mistake!! “”
God, in Hinduism, is like a LOVING PARENT……..HE will love you no matter what……
Your destiny will be determined by ur actions( law of karma).
So RELAX…….and there is NO HARM if you are “”"”making some mistake!! “”"”
“”The streets are surprisingly uncrowded…….”"
Now thats boring.
Nice pics! I wish I could be there to experience it!
We keep a Ganesha statue in our house, even though my husband was raised as a Jain (obviously, by my name). It’s a tall one, about 2 feet tall and made of brass. I just like Ganesha…he makes me happy! We also have a Mahavir bhagwan.
Yum, Sharell! I look at the photos and all I can think is of the yummy festival food that every one makes!!!!
hmmmmmm Halwa and ladoo. mmmmmmmm Drool!
Ganpati bappa morya!..enjoy the festivities Sharel!
Awesome pics !!!
How I miss Maharashtra and its festivities !!!
I think one should just be grateful to the Lord for all the kindness and love he has showered upon us and we can do that in any way we are comfortable in !!!
Tk Cr and Happy Chaturthi !
enjoy the festival.
… my favourite deity. 
I agree Shalini, showing appreciation is showing appreciation. Surely, any way of doing that must be good.
PGB, mine is Saraswati.
Ganpatti is a close second.
aha!! Saraswati suits perfectly for person who is intelligent and modest.
Hey Sharell
“”mine is Saraswati”"
Mine is MA DURGA.
u know Goddess Saraswati,Lakshmi are the DAUGHTERS OF GODDESS DURGA.
Ganesha,Kartik are the sons.
Cheers
Hey Ronny, now this is where I get even more confused (as if how to pray to all the different Gods wasn’t bad enough!
). I thought Saraswati was the wife of Lord Brahma who created her, and that Lord Shiva and Parvati were the parents of Ganesh and Kartik. So, Parvati must also be known as Goddess Durga (sorry, I don’t know much about her)? Then how did Saraswati come to be the daughter of Goddess Durga, or is this in another incarnation? I really need to study up on this properly to get my head around all this!
PGB, thank you. That brought a smile to my face!
Hhahahahaha…….totally confused i guess
Listen Sharell…….Dont worry about all these things and just ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES……….have loads and loads of great food(without worry about weight)…..do lots of pandal hopping and have fun with family and friends……..
Enjoy girl!
I did not know either Saraswati is durga’s daughter, only that she is Brahma’s consort. Besides, I thought lakshmi, saraswati and durga are all of equal status. What about Ganga? Is she Shiva’s daughter? Much confusion! Should read it up sometime………….:)
Vinayaka chavithi is one of the big festival in andra pradesh. Really i miss alote this festival