On the eve of the Ganesh Chaturthi devotees gear up to celebrate the most popular festival

Report and Pictures by Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 10 September 2010:  There has been hectic preparation for the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi which falls on Saturday, 11th September 2010. It is on this day that Lord Ganesha was born, who is widely worshiped as the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

The pandals for the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav had been readied many days ago. The shops were stocked with necessary commodities that are required for the celebration of one of the most popular festivals in India especially in the Maharashtra state. Besides Maharashtra, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is also celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in Gujarat, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamilnadu. Along with India, Ganesh Chaturthi  is also celebrated in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Most of the Ganesh idols in Maharashtra come from a place known as Pen in the Raigad District on the national highway-NH-17. The Ganesh idols from Pen are also sent to Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata and even to overseas countries such as USA and England.

On the eve of the Ganesh Chaturthi people were seen cleaning their homes and preparing for the grand festival. Just to have a feel of the festive atmosphere this reporter ventured out to explore the city. In one shop this reporter came across the idols of Ganesh meant for the Tamilian families. These Ganesh idols had typical Tamilian look. The idols were sold along with other provisions. The shop-keeper informed that the cost of the idols in his shop ranged from Rs.50/- to Rs.500/- depending on the size of the idol. At another place, the reporter met a dealer of the Ganesh idols which he had procured from Pen. He pointed out that most of the idols in his show-room were booked by individual families and housing societies. The cost of the idols in his show-room ranged from rs.150/- to Rs.4000/- he pointed out that there are hundreds of dealers like him who bring the idols around two months prior to the festival.

 

On the roadside, village women were selling assortment of various types of ingredients required for the ‘Ganesh’ pooja including mango leaves, tender areca nuts, marigold flowers, etc. Many fruit sellers were seen with fresh fruits such as apples and bananas which will be offered to the Ganesh idol.  The vegetable vendors also did not lag behind in providing the people with fresh vegetables that too required especially for the festive occasion. One of the important verities of sweets known as ‘modak’ is a must for this festival. People were out in large number to make the last minute purchases for the festive day. Another common sight during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival as in the case of other festivals also are the huge hoardings of greetings that the politicians of different political parties display at vantage points to attract the attention of the people. 

Many people have been taking the Ganesh idol to their homes or housing societies with loud sound of drums dancing in front of the vehicle taking the idol. This reporter saw idols being taken in rickshaws, tempos, trucks in the case of large Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals and even in cars and hand  carts. 

The air of festivity pervades the entire atmosphere with devotees of Lord Ganesh making the necessary purchases unmindful of the inflation as they believe that once a year they can afford to spend a little more than the previous year for their favourite deity, Lord Ganesh as he will take care of their worries and will help them to see a better future. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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