Ganesh Chaturthi

[Guest guest]

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated as Ganesha's birthday, is

this year on September 17th (barely two weeks away!).

 

Here's the way I used to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with my coven:

 

Get some construction paper in bright and light colors, and some colored

pencils. A stamp pad and a rubber stamp depicting Ganesha is also a good

idea. (I collect rubber stamps with images of Ganesha and other Hindu

Gods, so if you see any nice ones, give me a head's up!)

 

Light a candle, and some pleasant incense, and gather the people who are

celebrating with you in a circle. Chant a simple chant to Ganesha (I

like: "Ganesha sharanam/ Sharanam Ganesha"), and meditate about what bad

habits and destructive behaviors cause you obstacles. With colored

pencils on the contruction paper, draw these obstacles as Ganas, as

impish demons who cause you trouble. Keep them simple, and you may wish

to give them names written near their image. Don't do more than three or

four Ganas.

 

Then take the rubber stamp, and stamp an image of Ganesha over each imp.

Imagine him sitting on the Gana, or holding it back, or dancing on it.

If you don't have a rubber stamp, draw a large, red OM over the sketch of

the Gana. Then consecrate the paper with four elements -- a drop of

scented oil for earth, a sprinkle of water, pass it over the candle (but

don't set it alight!), and wave incense around it. Say: "Remover of

Obstacles, feed these hungry ghosts and let them leave me alone!" Offer

some cookies and juice to Ganesha, and partake of some yourself.

 

Then take the picture home, and put it somewhere you will see it for

several days -- on your altar, on your refrigerator door, taped to your

computer. Once a day, wave incense around the images, or offer them a

cookie, and repeat their names, saying, "Bad temper (or whatever), I am

feeding you. In the name of Ganesha, be satisfied, and let me be!"

 

After 4 or 8 days, take down the picture, and travel to the nearest body

of flowing water -- a stream, a river, the ocean. Sing lots of songs to

Ganesha, crumple the picture of the Ganas, and toss it into the water, to

dissolve. Say, "Jaya Ganesha, kshamasvati!" which means, "Hail, Ganesha,

forgive me for bothering you." As the paper is carried away, imagine the

obstacles being carried out of your life. See Ganesha entering your

heart, to dwell as your constant companion.

 

This ritual leaves you feeling wonderful!

 

Ganesha sharanam,

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated as Ganesha's birthday, isthis year

on September 17th (barely two weeks away!).Here's the way I used to celebrate

Ganesh Chaturthi with my coven:Get some construction paper in bright and light

colors, and some coloredpencils. A stamp pad and a rubber stamp depicting

Ganesha is also a goodidea. (I collect rubber stamps with images of Ganesha

and other HinduGods, so if you see any nice ones, give me a head's up!)Light a

candle, and some pleasant incense, and gather the people who arecelebrating

with you in a circle. Chant a simple chant to Ganesha (Ilike: "Ganesha

sharanam/ Sharanam Ganesha"), and meditate about what badhabits and destructive

behaviors cause you obstacles. With coloredpencils on the contruction paper,

draw these obstacles as

Ganas, asimpish demons who cause you trouble. Keep them simple, and you may

wishto give them names written near their image. Don't do more than three

orfour Ganas.Then take the rubber stamp, and stamp an image of Ganesha over

each imp. Imagine him sitting on the Gana, or holding it back, or dancing on

it. If you don't have a rubber stamp, draw a large, red OM over the sketch

ofthe Gana. Then consecrate the paper with four elements -- a drop ofscented

oil for earth, a sprinkle of water, pass it over the candle (butdon't set it

alight!), and wave incense around it. Say: "Remover ofObstacles, feed these

hungry ghosts and let them leave me alone!" Offersome cookies and juice to

Ganesha, and partake of some yourself.Then take the picture home, and put it

somewhere you will see it forseveral days -- on your altar, on your

refrigerator door, taped to yourcomputer. Once a day, wave

incense around the images, or offer them acookie, and repeat their names,

saying, "Bad temper (or whatever), I amfeeding you. In the name of Ganesha, be

satisfied, and let me be!"After 4 or 8 days, take down the picture, and travel

to the nearest bodyof flowing water -- a stream, a river, the ocean. Sing lots

of songs toGanesha, crumple the picture of the Ganas, and toss it into the

water, todissolve. Say, "Jaya Ganesha, kshamasvati!" which means, "Hail,

Ganesha,forgive me for bothering you." As the paper is carried away, imagine

theobstacles being carried out of your life. See Ganesha entering yourheart,

to dwell as your constant companion.This ritual leaves you feeling

wonderful!Ganesha sharanam,-- Len/

Kalipadma______________Get

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