Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Celebrated in the UAE
By Sujay Bendur - Daijiworld Media Network – UAE (NR)
UAE, Sep 17: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals. It is observed not only within India but also abroad, especially in the UAE, where Hindu deities are worshipped in majority. Ganesha's idols of different sizes and made of clay are sold in the shops located close to the temples here.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival dedicated to the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, who is regarded as the embodiment of success and wisdom. It is he who is propitiated first before a devotee starts any religious ceremony or ritual.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated from the fourth to the fourteenth day in the month of Bhadrapad (August-September), when the moon is waxing bright. This festival is celebrated with great fervour all over India and also in other parts is the world. Preparations for the ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ celebrations begins months in advance. Every year clay images of the rotund, elephant-headed deity, ranging from a few inches to several feet in height are moulded into lovely shapes and then displayed wherever the festival is celebrated.
The main pooja, whether it is conducted in the home or at a public place, takes place on the very first day of the festival. Ganesha is worshipped with much fervour and ritual and the highlight of the festival is a feasting that is almost mandatory. Ganesha as is evident from his generous belly is very fond of sweets. So a variety of sweets is prepared in his name as ‘prasad’ and consumed with great gusto.
However many Hindus are wary of looking at the moon on this day. Once the main pooja is over, from that day onwards, till the tenth day, on certain specified days, the worship of Ganesha is concluded by immersing the deity in water. The Ganesha idol made of clay, to which obeisance has been offered is never kept permanently. It is then open to damage and no idol, no matter from what material it is crafted from, is never ever considered worthy of worship by Hindus, if it sustains even the minutest damage.
Ganesh Chaturthi Special on Daijiworld.com