TRINIDAD AND TOGAGO, September 19, 2013 (Trinidad Express): Ganesh Utsav, an Indian festival brought to Trinidad and Tobago by indentured laborers more than 150 years ago, was this week celebrated by Hindus throughout the country. The ten-day worship to Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles, culminated with a procession where Ganesh murtis were immersed in the sea yesterday.
Pundit Khemraj Vyas, secretary of the Pundit Parishad, said Lord Ganesh was one of the manifestations of Divinity. “Hinduism preaches that there is only one God and this God takes on many different forms front time to time. Ganesh is one such form. His birth is described as taking place in this particular month,” he said. He said a murti of the Hindu God is made out of clay and ceremonies are performed. “Hindus perceive (Lord Ganesh) as the remover of obstacles and the Lord of beginnings. The worship of Lord Ganesh is very important,” he said.
On the last day of the festival known as “Ananta Chaturdasi” the murtis are paraded through the streets, accompanied by singing and dancing, and then immersed in the ocean or other bodies of water