“I have never seen crowds like this, except maybe at the 4th of July celebrations at Washington. This is definitely bigger” said US Counsel General Michael Owens as he watched a sea of devotees at Chowpatty beach in Mumbai on Saturday, the 17th of September.
The Ganapati festival is celebrated by Hindus throughout the Country but in Mumbai, the Country’s richest and most populated city, the festival assumes awesome proportions. On the last day of the festival, millions of people of all ages descend onto the streets leading up to the sea, dancing and singing, to the rhythmic accompaniment of drums and cymbals. The festival lasts for ten days.
On the first day, devotees bring home colorful painted idols of the deity made of clay. While some of the idols are small sized, the attraction of the festival lies in the towering figurines, some of which are up to 25 feet high. The huge idols are installed by the local community puja committees, with the aid of contributions made by the residents. The design of the idol and the stage where it is installed are given great importance as competitions are held where the prizes for the best design are given away.
The idol is ceremoniously installed in a place of honour to the accompanying chanting of hymns and prayers are offered to it. It is decorated with precious ornaments, flowers and lights.
It is worshipped with great devotion and fervor over a period of ten days. After ten days of worship, the day of immersion or visarjan arrives.On this day, huge processions accompany the figurines of various shapes and sizes, dancing and singing on the streets and slowly make their way to the sea, lakes and other immersion sites.
It is amazing to see the massive crowds and the massive idols making their way in a disciplined manner amidst the busy traffic. The processions last throughout the day and well into the night as well.
The festival has a notable social and economic benefit. While it enables community-bonding, it provides a good source of livelihood to millions of petty artisans and folk artists, who are much in demand for their artistic and musical skills. The monetary offerings received by the local puja committees are also used for the benefit of the poor and the needy.
There is increasing concern that the immersion of the idols, many painted with poisonous chemicals, will contaminate the sea and lakes and cause irreparable environmental degradation.Awareness is spreading slowly that only the use of clay and other environmentally friendly products must be encouraged.
What makes the festival especially interesting is the different ‘avatars’ that the idol is made to appear in. Apart from carrying the traditional weapons to battle cosmic evil, the diety is seen in the avatar of Lord Krishna and Sage Parashurama. In one, the Lord is seen with dandiya sticks, which are used as an accompaniment to the navaratri dance festival. A dark complexioned Ganapati, in the avatar of Lord Krishna was also an unusual entry.
Ganesha is venerated as a destroyer of obstacles and the source of good luck. He is one of the most popularly worshipped deities and is always honored first in most worship services and rituals.
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