Source: HPI
KAUAI, HI, USA, September 18, 2010: Hinduism’s dearest and most rotund God was celebrated with pomp all over the world. The worship of Lord Ganesha is increasingly international. Below HPI brings you short summaries of celebrations around the world, with links.
Ganesh festival celebrated in Lyon, France (link)
Yesterday nearly 200 devotees and onlookers attended the fifth annual parade in honor of God Ganesh, organized by the Hindu Temple of Rillieux-la-Pape in the suburbs of Lyon, France. A mix of individual spiritual contemplation and communal festivity, this event brings together the Hindu community and the curious public every year. At 11:00, the crowd gathered outside the temple on Bottet Street to accompany the God. Between traditional music, the colorful saris, incense and religious customs, the procession provided a grand spectacle. The festival ended with a vegetarian meal offered by the temple to all participants.
Ganesh pulls in the crowds for Hindu festival in Leicester
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Thousands of people have been queuing to pray at a nine-foot statue of the Hindu God Ganesh as part of a religious festival. The statue, which is claimed to be the biggest of its kind in the UK, is being displayed at Shree Sanatan Mandir temple, in Weymouth Street, Belgrave, Leicester, as part of the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. Staff at the temple ordered the clay sculpture, which took four months to build, from Mumbai. The statue, which is biodegradable, was taken to Liverpool on Wednesday and immersed in the River Mersey to symbolise Ganesh’s return to his parents and spiritual home. Festival organiser Vinod Patel said this year’s celebrations were the biggest yet in Leicester. He said: “Every year we try to make the statue bigger. It is the largest one in the UK this year and we’ve had thousands of people coming to see it. It was hard work getting it inside the temple but it has been worth it!”
Music fills streets of Flushing for Ganesha festival
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The streets of Flushing were transformed into a path fit for a god as thousands of Hindu worshipers gathered Sunday to celebrate the end of the Sri Ganesha Chaturthi festival. Worshipers from around the world and even some non-Hindus watched as Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of knowledge and remover of obstacles, was carried around the Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam Temple at 45-57 Bowne St., in his glorious 15-foot chariot known as the Ratha Yatra. “It happens once a year. It shows our unity as a community,” said Virthura Kunarathnam, 18, a temple worshiper from East Meadow, L.I.
Nearly 3,000 people, most dressed in traditional Hindu garb, danced, prayed and gave gifts of food and trinkets to the god as it was moved around the block of the temple. The chariot was led by a group of musicians who entertained the crowd with upbeat drums and soothing Indian flutes. The music was so fun for the crowd that even elected officials, such as City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone), state Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) and her political rivals John Messer and Isaac Sasson danced along as well.
Ganesha Chaturthi in Mauritius (HPI)
The paradisiac island of Mauritius, in the Indic Ocean, has a Spiritual Park founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. There a giant murti of five-faced Panchamukha Ganapati is worshiped with fervor. Large crowds gather regularly to worship the Lord of Beginnings, singing bhajans, writing prayers and offering millions of flowers. Ganesha’s birthday celebrations attracted this year over 7,000 people, or more than 0.5% of the population of the whole Republic of Mauritius.
Honoring Ganesha in Oman
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Ganesh Chaturti celebration in Oman commenced on Saturday 11th September 2010 on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturti day at Shiva Temple Hall, and lasted for three days. A sparkling crown in the precious metal-gold, with neat filigree patterns, was offered to Lord Ganesha after the pratisthapan pooja. The celebrations reflected the spirit, piety and fervor of the devotees. This mega festival celebration happens in Oman since 1985. The offerings included a massive homa, 108 coconuts and 501 ladoos.