Venkat Raman
September 20, 2023
‘Ganapati Bappa Morya!’ ‘Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha!’ and ‘May the Remover of All Obstacles bring joy, peace and prosperity to everyone, everywhere in the Universe,’ were among the prayers and wishes that are being heard across New Zealand, as Hindus mark one of the most important festivals in their religious and social calendar.
Many of us started observing ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ marking the Birthday of Lord Ganesha, the Primary God of the Hindus on Monday (September 18) but a majority of Hindus began the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities on Tuesday (September 19).
Ganesha Temple Papakura
The Pillayar (Ganesha) Temple in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura was the first to usher in the Chaturthi celebrations commencing at 4.30 am with the first Pooja held at 5 am.
Chief Priest Parameswaran (Chandru) led the prayers throughout the day with more than 2000 devotees attending various Poojas and Abhishekams that went on until 10.30 pm.
The first session of Poojas, held from 5 am to 7.30 am was extensive, including Asta Draviya Sahitha Moola Mantra Homam, Visesha Ganapathi Homam, Vigneswaran Pooja, Puniyaha Vachanam, Sthapana Kumba Pooja, Draviya Homam, Draviya Abhishekam, Morning Special Arathi for Chaturthi and Maha Prasadam.
“As per our annual practice, all Poojas on the Chaturthi Day were common. Devotees were able to participate in the Morning Homam for $101 or in Chaturthi Archana for $15,” Chandru said.
The mid-morning segment (from 10 am to 2 pm) comprised Vigneswaran Pooja, Swasthi Puniyaham,
108 Shanga Pooja, Draviya Homam, 108 Shangabishekam, Uchikala Pooja and Arati and Maha Deeparathanai and Chaturthi Sangalpam Archanai.
The evening festivities began with Ashtothara Kalasabishekam and Adarvashirsha Homam, followed by Vigneswara Pooja, Swasthi Punniyaham Ashtothara, 108 Kalasa Pooja
Shodasa Draviya Abhishekam, Moolamanthira Homam and Adarvashirsha Homam, Draviya Homam, Poornahuthi, 108 Kalasabishekam, Neeranjanam, Ganesha Divya Namavali (Bajans), Mahadeepaarathanai for Moola Sthanam, Vasantha Mandapa Deeparathanai,
Tiruveethi Ula (Procession and Maha Prasadam.
On Tuesday (September 19), the Temple was open from 4.30 am to 10 pm.
“Daily Pooja with Special Abhishekam will be held daily from September 20 to September 28, 2023. Ananda Chathurdasi will be observed on the final day with Vigneswaran Pooja Puniyaham. Draviya Abhishekam, Nithya Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Tiruveethi Ula, Archana Seva and Maha Prasadam. The Purattasi Saneeswaran Shanti Pooja and Venkateswara Pooja will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2023 from 10 am to 11.30 am, followed by Archana and Anna Dhanam. Devotees can register for Saneeswaran Shanti Homam ($101) at the Temple or on the Temple website,” Chandru said.
Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam Mangere
The three-day festival at Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam located on 69 Tidal Road in Mangere (South Auckland) also saw hundreds of devotees at its Special Pooja and Abhishekams held from September 17 to September 19, 2023.
“We pray to the one with the single-tusked elephant tooth who is omnipresent. We meditate upon and pray for greater intellect. We bow before you to illuminate our minds with wisdom,” a Temple notification said.
The New Zealand Telugu Association, which recently celebrated its Silver Jubilee, celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi for its members and guests at the Temple on September 19, 2023.
The Mana Andhra Telugu Association (MATA) New Zealand conducted a Special Pooja at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall (13 May Road) in Mt Roskill on September 19, 2023. About 200 men, women and children were present at the event which included Maha Prasadam.
Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
The Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple located in Prabhadevi, Mumbai is arguably the most popular place of worship for Ganesh Bhaktas in the world. According to reports, more than 200,000 people visit the Temple on Ganesh Chaturthi and on Tuesday, which is considered auspicious.
Ganesh Chaturthi occurring on Tuesday (such as this year) therefore has great significance.
This Temple was first consecrated on November 19, 1801 with a black stone idol of Shree Siddhivinayak, which was two and a half feet wide. The outstanding feature of this Deity is the tilt of the trunk to the right side. The idol has four hands (Chaturbhuj), which contains a Lotus in the upper right, a small axe in the upper left, holy beads in the lower right and a bowl full of Modaks (a delicacy which is a perennial favourite with Shree Siddhivinayak). Flanking the deity on both sides are Riddhi & Siddhi, goddesses signifying sanctity, fulfilment, prosperity and riches. Etched on the forehead of the deity is an eye, which resembles the third eye of Lord Shiva.
The Temple was renovated in 1994.
About Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi, also called Vinayaka Chaturthi, in Hinduism, 10-day festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the God of prosperity and wisdom. It begins on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September), the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.
At the start of the festival, idols of Ganesha are placed on raised platforms in homes or elaborately decorated outdoor tents. The worship begins with the Pranapratishhtha, a ritual to invoke life in the idols, followed by shhodashopachara, or the 16 ways of paying tribute. Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns from religious texts like the Ganesh Upanishad, the idols are anointed with red sandalwood paste and yellow and red flowers. Ganesha is also offered coconut, jaggery, and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings), considered to be Ganesha’s favourite food.
At the conclusion of the festival, the idols are carried to local rivers in huge processions accompanied by drumbeats, devotional singing, and dancing. There they are immersed, in a ritual symbolising Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailash, the abode of His parents, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
Ganesh Chaturthi assumed the nature of a gala public celebration when the Maratha Ruler Shivaji (1630-1680) used the occasion to encourage the nationalist sentiment among his subjects, who were fighting the Mughals. In 1893, when the British banned political assemblies, the festival was revived by the Indian nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in Hindu communities worldwide and is particularly popular in Maharashtra and many parts of Western India.
Street Procession
For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied by dancing, and singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolising a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. All join in this final procession shouting “Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya” (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.
The whole community comes to worship Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve as the venue for free medical checkups, blood donation camps, a charity for the poor, dramatic performances, films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of the festival.
