Karthik Subramanian
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, September 12, 2006: (HPI note: In the “better late than never” category, we offer this overlooked report on Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations in Australia last September.)
Every year during August – September most Hindus in Australia eagerly ask one question. When is Ganesha Visarjana this year? Of late Ganesha’s pot-bellied grace has extended past the boundaries of Hindu community and many local non-Hindus have started participating in the festival with equal if not more zealous and enthusiasm.
Sri Venkateswara Temple, Helensburg, about 50kms South of Sydney has been celebrating Ganesha Visarjana since 1991 bringing together Hindus of various Hindu organizations in and around Sydney, Australia. This year the festival, celebrated on 3rd of September commencing at 8am brought over 4,000 people from near and far — incidentally, near by Australian standards is a radius of 500kms.
A special Lord Ganesha Deity made out of clay was decorated and invoked with appropriate Vedic hymns with traditional nadaswaram and mridangam accompaniments.
Amidst a fine spring day in Sydney the outer section of the temple was bustling with cultural activities. Accomplished community musicians, dancers and speakers from various missions were enthralling the captive audience on spirituality through discourses and cultural programs. Several children’s activities were organized. The most popular was the Ganesha coloring competition. The best-colored poster was auctioned with the proceeds going to the temple.
Devotees flocked in numbers to taste the culinary delights of hot traditional South and North Indian cuisines drawn by the aroma of dosas, vadas, and rotis emanating from the community kitchen manned by volunteers, again all proceeds going to the temple.
The procession to Stanwell Park beach was on by 2.30 pm, devotees making their way by car and through several bus trips organized by the temple. By 3.30 pm, the crowd was swelling at the beach much to the amusement of local Aussie beach goers, many of whom decided to join in to the loud banging of drums and chanting of “Ganpathi Bappa Morya….”
The crowd surged towards the waters of the South Pacific Ocean carrying the Lord deeper and deeper, electric with fever chanting “Ganpathi Bappa Morya ….” until a large wave engulfed the crowd claiming its share of The Remover of Obstacles. As the wave subsided devotees were left holding the pedestal. The Lord who had taken a form to bless and mingle with Devotees had gone back to His formless self leaving some devotees close to tears. Consciousness dawned, realizing the truth and significance of the endless process of creation and destruction, joy replaced tears and the devotees danced back to the shore.
In separate activities, “Friends of India” also celebrated Ganeshoutsav. Their celebration is a testimony of faith and perseverance. Back in 1996 a group of nine families, recent skilled migrants to Australia, decided to celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi to inculcate spirituality and culture to the next generation. Joining forces they invoked Lord Ganesha in a garage of one of the devotees, duly sanctified. The news got around and so did the enthusiasm to participate was contagious. The next year the garage was too small to accommodate the growing numbers and the venue was shifted to larger community hall in Liverpool. Year by year the popularity grew exponentially and the venue shifted to bigger and better locations as seen it last year where it was celebrated at Sydney Olympic Centre attracting over 3,000 devotees. This year it was celebrated on September 9th and 10th at Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool, in Sydney’s West. The entire leisure center was booked for the weekend starting from Friday evening. The hall was busy with activities from Friday evening resembling a traditional Hindu Wedding. Ganesha puja was performed on Saturday morning with the participation of over 1,000 devotees. A clay vigraha of Ganesha hand crafted by a devotee was invoked by two priests who later performed the puja followed by Laksharchane (Chanting 100,000 names of the Lord).
Children were kept occupied with coloring and clay modeling activities. Many versions of Ganesha were hand modeled by children, some with surprisingly intricate details and accuracy. Homemade prasad served on banana leaves in traditional style was relished by children and adults alike. The heavy downpour didn’t deter the attendance to the cultural program that evening. The cultural program designed by youth performed by children displayed a rich variety including Bharatanatyam dance, classical instrumental and vocal music, drama and some Bollywood themes. The program ended with traditional dinner served to 2,500 people, all free of cost. Sathyanarayana puja was performed on Sunday followed by tabloid presentation of Ramayana and Bhagavatha by children. About 80 children participated in this colorful and ‘most original’ presentation. Swami Damadoranand of Vedanta centre presided over the function. The site of the final immersion was Chipping Norton Lake, a picturesque lake in South West of Sydney on Georges River. This is sacred to native Aboriginal Australians and it was fitting that the Lord Ganesha had chosen to merge with these waters here.