Muscat: Splendid Event Marks Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

Koni Prakash Naik, Kundapur / Muscat
 
Muscat, Sep 26: The 28th year of Shree Ganesh Chaturthi festival was celebrated with traditional pomp, fervour, gaiety and devotion at Muscat Shiva temple from Wednesday September 19 to Friday, Septemner 21.

A large number of devotees not only from Tulu Nadu, but from all parts of India, especially from Karnataka attended this festival of devotion, offered prayers and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Elaborate rituals marked the festivities at the temple.

Invocation / Pratishtapana Rituals

After completing the Pratishtapana (invocation) rituals, the idol of Lord Ganesha was installed inside the mandap. Bala Ganesha wearing a glittering golden crown (Swarna Mukuta) was exquisitely adorned with variety of flowers and ornaments. In addition, a beautifully engraved silver umbrella was hung above the idol. Devotees were seen standing in a long queue since early morning at the temple to have the darshan of the presiding deity Lord Ganesh.

Decoration

The temple hall entrance was decorated traditionally with banana stems, mango leaves, cluster of tender coconuts, bunches of dates and flowers. The alcoves on the ceilings of the entire hall were adorned beautifully in fresh flower garlands in an artistic pattern, with light and dark hued flowers alternately arranged. Almost 200 kg of fresh flowers of different varieties and colours were flown in from Bangalore, Mangalore and Mumbai. Fresh flower garlands of Mangalore Malige, Roses, Jasmine, Lotus, Kewra, Marigold, Zeenia, etc adorned the idol of Lord Ganesha on all the three days. A rare opportunity for the devotees to witness such a beautiful floral decoration and it was a mesmerizing treat to the eyes. The entire decoration was aesthetically created by a team of enthusiastic, creative volunteers mainly Vishwanath Bangera, Mahesh Bangera, Ravi Kanchan, Vittal Pujari, Satish Pujari, led by Koni Prakash Naik.

Rangoli

Right in front of the mandap, a beautiful rangoli depicting Lord Ganesha seated on a huge lotus, was created by the duo Paru Negandhi and Bijal Ved. The Rangoli design was replete with all the symbolic representation and ornate jewellery stones, bejeweled with stone necklaces.

Pooja Rituals and Offerings

The Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations started with Pratishtapana, Panchamrita Abhisheka and Gana Homa between 9.05 am and 11 a.m. As part of the celebrations, several other traditional rituals like Aarathi, Maha Pooja, Ranga Pooja, Vedic Chants, Ganapathi Sahasranama Smarane were performed and continuous offerings like 108 Coconuts, Laddu, Chakkuli, Kajjaya and Modaka, were made to the Lord. All the pooja rituals were performed by the main Archaka Shankar Narayan Adiga (who was brought in from India), assisted by a group of local Archakas.

Cultural Programme

As part of the festivities, cultural programmes like Bhajans, Devotional Songs, Veena Recital, Bharath Natyam, Odyssey Dance were presented which were highly spectacular and were performed throughout the day by various Bhajan / Dance troupes drawn from different parts of the country. This cultural extravaganza immersed the devotees into a devotional world of joy throughout the day.

Popular bhajans like Prathama Vandane Ninage, Gana Nayaka, Jai Jai Ganapati Jai Ganesh, Poorna Roop Omkara Gajanana, Jai Ganesha Deva, Sharanu Siddhi Vinayaka, Eka Danta Shree Gananatha, Tuja Magato Mee Aata, Shree Siddhi Vinayaka Deva, Prathma Namah Girijasura Sharanu Sharuvayyo Gana Nayaka, Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma were rendered and the session was concluded with mangala bhajan ‘Jaya Mangalam Nitya Shubha Mangalam. A special Pushparchana was conducted during which Karunakar Rao chanted the Shloka “Madukarata Modakam ……”

The hall reverberated with the Vedic Chants by Mohan and Group; Shukla Yajurveda Ghanam chanting by A.V. Manohar. Devotional music resonated in the air with musical offerings by Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda, newly formed Om Shree Ganesha Bala Vrinda, Anita Bhat Group, Meenakshi Group, Jyothi Balaji, Latha Murali, Mata Amritanandamayi Bhajan Group, Oneness Group, Sai Devotees, Aaradhana Group, Chinmaya Bala Vihar Group, Maithri Vrinda Group, Divine Spark Group, Art of Living Group, Thyagaraja Samiti, Muscat, Gopa Kuteera Group, Muscat GSB Group, Hare Krishna Group and Bhakthi Keerthan Mandali,

Bharat Natyam dance performances were rendered by the Disciples of Padmini Krishnamoorthy, Kum. Radhika and Kum. Saanika (Muscat sisters), Guru Pramila Ramesh & Disciples, and Odyssey dance by Kum. Shreya Bangera and Veena Recital by Chitra Ravi and Disciples.

Invocation bhajan and the final day bhajans were performed by Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda team consisting of Karunakar Rao, Koni Prakash Naik, Ashok Kotian, Kishore Kotemane, Nisha Anil, Prema Umesh, Anil Kumar, Raju Sanil, Pushpa Kotian, Divya Kotian, Chaitra Kotian and Ashok Kotian.

Finale

The finale of the three day celebration was the ritual of immersion. Amidst the repeated and befitting choral chants of “Ganpati Bappa Moriya” the immersion of the idol of Lord Ganesha was conducted.

Traditional Mangalorean cuisine was served as Prasad on all the three days and on the last day after immersion a sumptuous cuisine namely Moode, Payasa, Holige, Chitranna, Kodhel, Saar, Huli/Sambar, Mosaru/Majjige (Curd/Butter Milk) were served on plantain leaves to all those who were present enhancing the flavour of the festival. It was catered by Raviraj Ballal, Swagath Group of Hotels.

All the arrangements were impeccably coordinated and executed. The committee members along with a number of volunteers contributed to the proceedings of the three day festival with immense devotion. This year’s ceremonial couple, Kashinath Anchan and Sucheta K. Anchan sat for the Invocation and Immersion pooja proceedings.

Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, J. S. Mukul, along with his family was present for the first day afternoon Mahapooja and offered prayers to Lord Ganesha. Certain other prominent personalities from the merchant community like Kanaksi Khimji, Ashwin Nensey, Kiran Asher, Krishnakumar Taori together with their respective family members partook in the celebrations and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesh.

Festival Committee

The Committee members, under the able guidance of the Convenor Ramesh Shettigar, have impeccably conducted and devoted all their efforts undauntedly towards the proceedings of the three day long festival. The Muscat Ganesh Festival Committee comprises of Prakash Naik Koni, Ramanand Kunder, S.K. Poojary; Karunakar Rao; Ashok Kotian; .Umesh Karkera; Shashidhar Shetty Mallar; Nagesh Shetty; Ravi Kanchan, Mangaldas Kamath, Gurudas Pejathaya, Shreenivas yan, Kashinath Anchan and Dr. C. K. Anchan.

Due to the unstinted and selfless efforts put in by the members of Shree Ganesh Festival Committee together with a strong team of committed volunteers having a feeling of fraternity and oneness, Muscat devotees have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to celebrate Ganesh festivals for all these years and with the Lord’s blessings, efforts are continuing with one voice “GANAPATHI BAPPA MORIYA”. May Lord Ganesha bless all.