Mangalore: Lord Ganesha is at your Thresholds: Welcome Him
Pics: Sphoorty Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Aug 22: Ganesha Chaturi, a celebration of the day on which Lord Ganesha took birth, is celebrated on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturhi (fourth day of the waxing moon). This year, it falls on Sunday, August 23
Lord Ganapati is considered to be fond of eating and it is said, He is never tired of eating things offered by his devotees. People here have been making preparations to appease their favourite deity with decorations, delicious offerings and pujas. Lord Ganesha, also known with many other names like Vinayaka, Ganapati, Gananatha, Lambodara etc., is believed to have been created out of grime by Goddess Paravati, wife of Lord Shiva. Ganesha, one of the most well known and widely venerated elephant-god, represents intellect, prosperity and wisdom. He is also called 'Vighnesha', the Lord of Obstacles, and it is believed, that offering puja to Lord Ganesha before starting a venture, commencing a journey, conducting auspicious occasions, buying a vehicle etc., is the best way to ward off any obstacles that might create hurdles later.
Lord Ganesha's idols are made by skilled artisans in advance. Craftsmanship, quality of materials used, intricate ornaments designed on the body of the idol, crown, size etc., decide the price an idol of Lord Ganesha commands. Normally, the idol of the Lord is made in a sitting position, riding a mouse, with one of the legs folded and placed on the other. Now-a-days, it is not very rare to find Lord Ganesha's idol in various positions to suit the tastes of the devotees who worship Him.
People start collecting puja materials and items for making delicacies for Ganesha festival, at least a week in advance. Prices of flowers, fruits etc., skyrocket during Ganesha Chaturthi. This year too, the prices have gone out of the reach of ordinary people, and reportedly, economic downturn and soaring prices have compelled people to cut costs, resulting in sluggish sale of idols and scaling down of the grandeur of the functions.
With the increased awareness about environment pollution, there has been a surge in the demand for eco-friendly idols of the Lord, although they are a bit costly. The people trust, that the Lord will turn his glance at them and shower His blessings on them. The people, particularly the business community, hope that the puja offered to Lord Ganesha this year will turn the trends and put the country back on the tracks to affluence.
.
The people have begun preparations to welcome the Lord in a big way. But the spirts of the citizens of Dakshina Kannada district are a bit dampened by the rising prices of items needed in general, and the unsavoury incident of assaults that have forced the district to promulgate ban order between 8 pm and 8 am in particular.
Those whose houses or festival sites are located near the centres where Ganapati idols are made, prefer to collect the idol in the early morning of Ganesha Chaturhi day and take the idol in a procession, accompanied by musical instruments and Bhajans. However, those for whom collecting the idol on the same day is inconvenient and who fear that they may have to wait for long to take delivery of their idol, collect the idol the previous day.
Perishables like vegetables, fruits, flowers, sugarcane etc., have to be bought at the last minute and the rush at the market the previous day of Ganesha Chaturthi is maddening, as both vendors and customers want to finish of business and head for home before dusk. This year, the people of the district are sure to pray to the Lord, and offer additional Modaks, a kind of sweet dish considered dear to him, with the prayers that common sense will prevail and the trouble mongers will keep humanity, peaceful co-existence and the welfare of the human race above every other consideration.