UAE: Lord Ganesh's Incarnation Day Celebrated With Devotional Fervour
Report and pics by Sujay Bendore
Daijiworld Media Network - UAE (SP)

Dubai, Sep 4: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals that is observed everywhere in India except a few northern Indian states. The celebrations connected with the festival, which include competitions, stage performances etc., are also noted for the devotional frenzy of the people who strongly believe, that worshipping of Lord Ganesha will remove all the hurdles that they might come across in their loves. The festival is also celebrated in foreign countries, particularly the UAE.

Idols of Lord Ganesha in various shapes and sizes, were sold on the occasion at the Bur Dubai temple. A huge crowd of enthuiasts landed there to buy the idols for being installed at their houses on the occasion of Ganesha Chaturti.

Several devotees in UAE celebrate the festival in a grand manner. Vasudev Bhat of Venus Restaurant,is one of them. Vani Vasudev Bhat revealed to Daijiworld, that the family has been installing Ganesha idol on the occasion of this festival every year since the last ten years. Over the years, devotees have made it a practice to visit their home on the occasion and pay obeisance to the Lord who removes obstaces in the lives of his devotees, on this occasion. People from all over the Emirates assemble at his house for the purpose.

As in India, the idol of the Lord is installed as per procedures, followed by Puja and Bhajans. The devotees wait till Mangalarati is offered and Mahaprasada is distributed.

Another ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha is Mike Advani from UAE, a businessman by profession. The devotees are thrilled to find eight forms of the Lord at his house this time around. Advani has been celebrating the festival since the last 31 years, and has made it a habit to install different types of idols every time.

People who worship Lord Ganesha on Chaturti day, observe Gowri Puja the previous day. Gowri, symbalising purity and austeirty, is the mother of Lord Ganesha. She had practised a long penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Married as well as unmarried girls worship the Goddess for the longevity of their husbands, or alternatively, to get a virtuous husband.

Ganesh Chaturti, also known as 'Vinayak Chaturti', falls on the fourth day of Bhandrapada, a month in Hindu calendar. The festivities normally end with Ananta Chaturdashi. However, of late, some large-sized idols of the Lord installed in large cities, are immersed after a month to 45 days after thereir installation.

As per Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, created Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva gave him the elephantine head. Lord Ganesha a lover of fun and feasts, is known for his profound sense of humour. Modak is believed to be his favourite dish, and the people specially make modaks on the festival day and offer them to the Lord. It is believed, that people who install the idol of the Lord on the Chaturti day once, have to celebrate this festival every year by installing His idol thereafter.

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