The Divine Traveler: Lord Ganesha (Ganesh Sthapana)

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival: 19th September - 29th September 2012

It’s been a one long year waiting... but He has kept His promise. Yes, yes... He’s back again! To be amongst us - His loved ones, to partake in all the festivities, to unify, to bond and to love and be loved all over again. He is none other than our dear friend, philosopher and guide – the tiny eyed and pot bellied – the cute, kind and affable - the birthday Boy Ganesha!

One of my favorite festivals, the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival marking the birthday of the elephant headed and the one-tusked Lord of knowledge and wisdom - Lord Ganesha, is already on the move and with it has begun the 11 day Journey of the Lord on Earth. Leaving the comforts of His heavenly abode, the Kailash, far behind him, Lord Ganesh has settled in the scores of modest pandals, mandaps and tents set up lovingly for Him by His devotees. Now, in the next few days to follow, with a long to-do-list on His plate, He is going to be a busy man! So while He gets down to checking them out, why not we try and follow Him, in His earthly route, as we have been doing since the past two years?

Let us all come together, let's join hands, let’s be a part of (t)His travel journey... from His hometown (Kailash) to the Earth (Ganesh Sthapana) and back (Ganesh Visarjan)... and revel in all the joys of the festivities, together! :-)

Photo Essay: Ganesh Sthapana (The Welcome)

A week or so before the commencement of the festival:

The Bazaars are decked up with flowers, festoons, lightings and all sorts of decorative materials. The place where the Lord will be seated is to be made.

Artificial flowers and garlands on sale for decorating the deity of Lord Ganesha

People get down to choosing a Ganesha idol for themselves from the scores of options available in the markets. Hand chiseled by skilled artisans over a period of time, these idols are either in clay, plaster of paris or in bio-degradable substances.

A range of Ganesha idols for sale before the festival

Pandals (canopied tents - His temporary place of stay) are erected and singhasans (royal seats) are arranged for, in the lanes, societies and houses hosting the deity. The size of this generally depends on the size of the visiting Ganapati and the weight of monetary funds collected over the weeks. These tents are then brightened with colorful lights and festooned with ornamental stuffs - This will be His place of stay during His journey.

A Ganpati pandal in construction

A painted rangoli at the pandal entrance

Huge hoardings and billboards spring up everywhere you see. He is a celebrity after all! Various Ganpati mandals (associations and organizations), politicians and people from the business and trader community come out with their advertisements in an eager attempt to seize attention and gain some cookie points from all.

A Board displays the name of the organization responsible for collecting the funds and setting up the particular lane's Ganesha

19th September: The Welcome

All preparations done. Day to welcome the Birthday Boy finally arrives. People come out dressed up in their best attires to receive their dear friend. The male elder of the family holds a red colored pata (wooden seat) with a few grains of rice, a paan (betel leaf), a supari (betel nut) and some money kept on it.

A family getting ready to take Him along

With full respect and honor, incense sticks are lit up and the previously chosen Ganesha idol is requested if He would like to be a guest for the next few days and an earnest request is forwarded to come along.

Inviting Lord Ganesha...

The humble God that He is, He replies in the affirmative sending ripples of joy all across the family members. He is brought out, mounted on the pata and covered with a red chunari (cloth).

Like a blushing bride, Ganesha sits pretty... ready to be taken home

Amid the chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa... Morya, Bappa Bappa... Morya’, He is shifted to His earthly residence in rickshaws, cars, tempos or trucks.

Lord Ganesha being taken to His earthly abode

At His house... Shlokas are chanted, sacred mantras recited and arti (prayer) is performed, His red colored veil (chunari) is lifted and He breathes life.

For the next 11 days, this is where he is going to be...

With all of us... As Someone,

Less revered as a deity and more pampered as a loving member of the family.

...Stay tuned...

for His journey has just begun!

Related posts:

--> From the Year 2010:

1. Festive colors of Ganesh Chaturthi (Mumbai Pandals)

2. Goodbye Ganesha... Ganesh Visarjan

--> From the Year 2011:

1. Festive colors of Ganesh Chaturthi - Ganpati Pandals, Mumbai

2. Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations - Transcending Virtual Boundaries, Bringing Bloggers Together

3. Lalbaugcha Raja and Ganesh Galli Pandals

4. Ganpati Visarjan - Lord Ganesha's Journey Back Home