Ganesh Chaturthi
India
Idolatry at its finest.
While India is known for its three major festivals(Holi Dussehra Diwali), Ganesh Chaturthi surpasses them in enthusiasm, particularly in cities like Mumbai and Pune.
The fervor of this celebration was further amplified by Hindu believers asserting India as a Hindu nation.
During this festival, homes and public spaces are adorned with idols of Lord Ganesha, and rituals and prayers are dedicated to him. Elaborate ceremonies, especially on the first and last days, highlight the festivities. Throughout the celebration, various cultural and religious events take place in homes and communities, where people express gratitude to Lord Ganesha and seek blessings.
Then, at the end of the festival, all idols are thrown into the water.
The tradition of immersing Ganesh idols in water on the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi is called Ganesh Visarjan. There are several reasons for this tradition, including.
＊To emphasize the impermanence of things
＊To allow Ganesha to return home
＊To say farewell to the deities
＊To allow Mother Earth to bear the idols' power and energy
However, this tradition can cause water pollution. To reduce the impact on the environment, devotees are encouraged to immerse only clay idols without garlands.
During this season, workshops for the creation and sale of Ganesha idols can be seen throughout the town.
It is particularly vibrant in the state of Maharashtra and has become a cultural spectacle.
Relatives gather to offer Puja to the idol of Ganesh.
( Puja is a worship ritual performed by Hindus to offer devotional homage and prayer to one or more deities, to host and honor a guest, or to spiritually celebrate an event. )
A tale of overcoming evil and rewarding good is performed on the streets, defeating demons.
These events build up excitement day by day, leading to the climax on the final day of the festival.
The chant of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" echoes around.
(It's a sentence praising God Ganapati)
On the final day of the festival, people carry the idols and head towards the water. Everyone is wearing a smile.
(Hyderabad)
While India is known for its three major festivals(Holi Dussehra Diwali),Ganesh Chaturthi surpasses them in enthusiasm, particularly in cities like Mumbai and Pune.
(Mumbai)
The size of the idols varies, ranging from smaller ones to idols as tall as four-story buildings.
On the last day of the festival, the statues are submerged in water.
SACREDNESS OF WATER: Water is one of the elements considered sacred in Hinduism and many other religions.
Submerging an image of Lord Ganesha in water is believed to release divine energy through water.
This is also meant to seek protection from disasters and bad fate.
In Hyderabad, the statue is sunk in hussain sagar lake.
Mumbai during the monsoon season.
Despite the rain, idols continue to be brought in by the sea one after another.
Before the idols are submerged in the sea, the final Puja is conducted.
There are magnificent idols with a sense of artistic dynamism, but all of them are decomposed and left abandoned in the sea.
Both people and idols ultimately return to the earth in the end.
Mumbai was filled with people celebrating the festival. In the most crowded places, I had to be prepared for the banana tucked in my waist pouch to be crushed, with no room to put down my raised hand.
I even witnessed a woman faint and fall down about 5 meters away from me, but I could not even get close enough to her to help her.
Again, I was impressed by the religious spirit of India. Perhaps because their unique religion is respected, many Indians are proud of their country. This respect and reverence was also evident within their families. Such a spirit fills me with envy.
When I left the festive crowd and looked at my waist pouch, I saw that my bananas and plastic bottles had been stolen. But more than what I lost, I am grateful for what I received from India.
I hope the thief will eat the squashed bananas without discarding them.