Report: Nanag Shetty
Pics: Ramesh Babu and Suresh Nair
Daijiworld Media Network – Muscat (SB)
Muscat, Aug 31: Silver jubilee celebrations of Shri Ganesh festival was celebrated at Shiva Temple in Muscat by the Tulu community of Oman from August 23 to August 27. Lord Ganesha devotees not only from Tulunadu, but from all over India, especially from the region of Karnataka state, attended this splendid festival of devotion in large numbers.
The celebrations performed in great grandeur, zeal and devotion also attracts many devotees from interiors cities of the Sultanate. Pithamber Alke, the main co-ordinator of Lord Ganesha Celebrations Committee, senior most founder member of Tulu Koota Muscat, passionate devotee of Lord Ganesha is instrumental in organizing festival for the last 25 years.
The Vedic rituals and Puja during the five day long celebrations was conducted by the chief priest Shankar Narayana Adiga, assisted by a group of priests. Many devotees participated in the shatakai offerings, laddu offerings and sought the blessings of the Lord. Highlight of the rituals was traditional Ranga Pooja held on two days. Panchakajaya and Modhak, as Prasada, were offered to Lord Ganesha daily during Mahapoojas.
The Temple Hall was decorated in traditional style with banana stems, mango leaves, cluster of tender coconuts, and flowers. The entire hall was decorated beautifully with fresh flower and garlands. More than 400 kilos of different varieties of flowers including Mangalore mallige was flown in from India. The venue was decorated by a team of enthusiastic volunteers led by Prakash Naik Koni.
A colourful Rangoli depicting a standing statue of Lord Ganesha with all the symbolic representations was designed by Paru Negandhi and Bijal Ved.
The prominent personalities from Indian community like the counsellor, Embassy of India, Muscat, Swati Kulkarni, Kanaksi Khimji and family, Kiran Asher couple, Anil Khimji; Ashwin Dharamsey Nensey and family and Krishna Kumar Taori couple participated in the celebrations.
The hall echoed with the Vedic chants by Vaidyanathan and group, and A V Manohar. Devotional songs and bhajans were rendered by Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda, Mata Amritanandamayi Bhajan Group, Oneness Group, Sai Devotees, Chinmaya Bala Vihar Group, Maithri Vrinda, Divine Park, Art of Living, Shri Thyagaraja Samiti , Muscat GSB Group, Hare Krishna Group, R.Meenakshi and party, Latha Murali and disciples and Jyoti Balaji. Veena recital by Chitra Ravi and disciples, Mangalarchana in the Odissi dance form by Shreya Bangera and Bharatanatyam by Padmini Krishnamoorthy's disciples were presented as an offering to the Lord.
The finale of the five day celebration was culminated with immersion ceremony.
Thousands of devotees partook in the five-day celebrations and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Traditional Mangalorean cuisine was served as Mahaprasada on plantain leaves enhancing the fervour of the festival.
The committee members, under the able guidance of the Convener Pithamber Alke worked relentlessly to organize this silver jubilee celebration. Muscat Ganesha Festival Committee comprises Pithamber Alke,Dayanand Rao Kavoor, Prakash Naik Koni, Ramanand Kunder, S K Poojary, Ramesh Shettigar,Umesh B, Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, Karunakar Rao, Ashok Kotian,Nagesh Shetty, Ravi Kanchan and Mangaldas Kamath.
In the year 1985 when Tulukoota was formed, the first ever Ganesh Festival was celebrated by the founding members along with the enthusiastic community devotees in a classroom of Indian School, Muscat. The venue was shifted next year to the Indian Cultural Association Hall and since 1993 the celebrations are being held at Lord Shiva Temple, Muscat.