The Ganesha comes home – India celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi
Frenzied drum beats as towering Ganeshas are paraded in autos ,crowds beating the rains and shopping for their puja paraphernalia , chaos wearing the cloak of a celebration – this is Ganesh Chaturthi , according to me the most frenzied festival .
And this is just the beginning as the loud pandals, the processions and the immersions are yet to happen. Today however Bangaloreans forgot the slush and the rains and flooded the market, looking for their Gowri and Ganesha.I was in Malleswaram, where the action happens . A newly constructed building was rented to house the ganeshas that had arrived from Bombay and they landed in hundreds , some of them as tall as 8-10 feet. As mayhem set in, I walked down the market, where the finishing touches were given to some clay Ganeshas .
I love festivals in general, as there is so much of energy and colour around. But with all due reverence given to Gods , I am not very excited with the chaos this festival begins. At home in Madras, we used to buy a small clay Ganesha and once we finish with the festivities , the Ganesha is left under a tree and slowly the clay blends with the environment.
But many others immerse their Ganeshas – some in buckets and wells in their houses, while many in the seas and lakes around . unfortunately unmindful of the damage they bring to their own habitat.
Also see – Bringing home the Ganesha
nice. I bet there is more to come about Ganesh Chaturthi…???
Ganesha is my fav god..talk to him, shout at him … :))
Every yr on Chathurthi day we normally go for a drive to feast on various Ganesha idols around the city.. big, small, interesting ones…
last evening,mom brot home one lonely ganesha idol, cos no puja at our home n mama’s place!!!
Lovely pics… looking fwd to more
Lovely pictures. It doesn’t seem to be big in Delhi though.
reminds me of my school days when we stayed at kanakapura road. We were hardly a km from lalbagh west gate. We used to take our neighbour’s Ganesha and walk to LAlbagh lake for immersion since this practice was not followed at home. The photos remind me of Gandhibazaar market and of course malleswaram market must also be buzzing. These are two areas which have retained their old world charm in Bangalore.
Your blog itself looks like a festival with so many lovely clicks.
Keep coming with more.
I love festivals, too. And I would love to be able to enjoy them from a secret spot in the air! Thanks for this post.
Madness Indeed. Love the picture of the couple taking the ganesh idol home
Ganesha is special to many people. I prefer Ganesha’s made of pure clay without any colors being applied. That is environment friendly. The kind of madness described by some one, could be encountered only in Mumbai. Very beautiful photographs indeed.
Nice pictures esp. I like the idol one in the women’s hand! Festival means fun, whatever it may be that brings joy and happiness… our idol is already back to the ground (to pot plants) by dissolving in bucked.
I had the good fortune to be in Bombay a few years back during this festival. A beautiful Ganesh, a gift from a family friend when we were in India a few months back, sits not far from where I write this.
Do visit Pune During Ganesh Festivals.. Its a great experience. Good Post
Bloody hell. I recognize the people in the pictures.