Ganesha Festival in Full Swing in Mumbai

[Guest guest]

Ganesha Festival in Full Swing in Mumbai MUMBAI, INDIA, September 15, 2007: Millions of people here are celebrating the Ganapati festival, a 10-day event beginning today that will see groups across the city vying to create the most colorful and attractive marquees. At least 8,000 to 9,000 Ganesha Mandals (a temporary temple build on the sidewalk) have been formed in the city and on the final day of festivities, the Deities of the elephant-headed god will be taken in a large procession for immersion in rivers in keeping with traditional rituals. The local Mandals vying with each other to put up the big Deities, are in no mood to deviate from the traditional public celebration of installing 20-30 feet high Deities.Police have tightened security ahead of the festival but nothing will dampen the celebratory mood for the remaining denizens of Mumbai. The festival begins with the installation of Deities by households and

by the Mandals. According to Maharashtrian almanacs, there is no specif ic muhurat (auspicious time) for the ritual, and the installation can be done at any time during the day. The household Ganesha can be immersed even after one-and-half days -- which suits the hectic life-style of Mumbai -- but the Sarvanjanik Ganesh Mandals (community Ganeshas) will be on exhibit for 10 days. The Sarvajaneek Ganeshotsav Samanvay (Coordination) Committee has around 8,500 mandals as its constituents. Prominent among these are Lalbagcha Raja Mandal, GSB Seva Mandal, Keshavji Naik Chawl Mandal in Girgaum, Andhericha Raja Mandal in Andheri and Sahyadri Krida Mandal in Tilaknagar. Lalbagcha Raja, in Lower Parel in central Mumbai, is the the most popular Ganapati as devotees believe it fulfills their wishes. Last year, it drew one million visitors every day, the Mandal claims. Naik Chawl Ganapati was the one where Lokmanya Tilak started the community Ganesha festival.www.saharasamay.com

For ideas on reducing your carbon footprint visit For Good this month.