Ganesha Chaturthi

Happy Birthday and many, many happy returns, Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva!

Ganesha Chaturthi is observed on the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapaa on the fourth day of the waxing moon. Unlike the firecracker festivities of Diwali, this festival seen subdued, more personal. Jay’s polling of work colleagues revealed that some celebrated, some did not, some did not seem to care.

We walked our local neighborhood today in search of how our neighbors were celebrating. We saw small family and larger neighborhood temples erected to Lord Ganesha. Colorful rangolis were drawn at doorways. Pooja, or worship, was offered and neighbors visited. A myriad of other rituals beyond our understanding were performed.

We also learned that there is a tradition of using a Ganesha idol made of clay. At the appropriate time near the end of the festival, the clay idol is immersed in water. The immersion typically takes place in a lake, or tank, as lakes are called in Bangalore. Once immersed, the idol dissolves. We are sure there is some mythical travel back to earth in this ritual.

Modern ecological awareness has been introduced into this immersion ritual. People were counseled to purchase idols painted only with vegetables dyes. Special immersion areas are set up in the few remaining tanks in Bangalore. Barriers are installed to prevent the clay from thousands of dissolving idols from entering the water system. Idols over five tall are not permitted to be immersed in these special areas.

The story of this elephant-like god oddly enough is encapsulated in a billboard display just outside our apartment. The legend is that the Goddess Gauri, consort of Lord Shiva, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of her body and placed him at the entrance of the house. Ganesha was told not to let anyone pass into the house. When Lord Shiva returned, he thought Ganesha was an outsider and cut off his head.

When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered his servants to cut off and bring to him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.

On Ganesha Chaturthi day, one meditates on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha and prays with faith and devotion that all the obstacles in one's spiritual path are removed. One embraces fresh spiritual resolve and prays for inner spiritual strength.

Amen…Shaloam…May it be so.