Gulf Kannadiga - a reflection of Karnataka in the Gulf

(ವಿಶೇಷ ಚಿತ್ರ ವರದಿ-ಸುಜಯ್ ಬೆ೦ದೂರ್)

ಗಣೇಶ ಚತುರ್ಥಿಯು ಹಿ೦ದೂ ಹಬ್ಬಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒ೦ದು ಪ್ರಮುಖವಾದ ಹಬ್ಬವಾಗಿದೆ. ಭಾರತ ದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೇ ವಿದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಯುಎಇ ದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಹಬ್ಬವನ್ನು ಸ೦ಭ್ರಮದಿ೦ದ ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

Aug 24: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals and it is observed everywhere in India except a few northern Indian states. The festival is also celebrated in foreign countries, particularly the UAE.

This time one could spot more of Lord Ganesha’s idols near the Shiva Temple, Bur Dubai. Year by year, the number of devotees appears to be on the rise.

I had the privilege of viewing the large number idols, flowers and sweets and capturing in my camera. A huge crowd of enthusiasts landed there to buy the idols for being installed in their houses on the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi.

Several devotees in UAE celebrate the festival in a grand manner. Vasudev Bhat of Venus Restaurant and his family have been installing Ganesha idol on the occasion of this festival over the past eleven years. On August 23 morning, the Prathistapane of Lord Ganesha was held in accordance with rituals, followed by Maha Puja. The idol will be kept for five days and in these five days daily bhajans, Vedas and Maha Puja will be held while Mahaprasad will be served to all devotees.

Over the years, devotees have made it a practice to visit the Bhat household on the occasion and pay obeisance to the Lord who wards off obstacles in the lives of his devotees. On this occasion. people from all over the Emirates assemble at his house for the purpose.

Another ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha is Mike Advani from the UAE, a businessman of repute. The devotees are thrilled to see different forms of the Lord Ganesha, very attractive, full-size statues of Lord Shiva and Parvati and also Shiva Linga at his residence this time around. Advani has been celebrating the festival for the last 32 years, and he has made it a practice to install different types of idols every time.

Ajwani, a prominet businessman of the UAE, has made a chariot on which different forms of Lord Ganesha and Laxmi idols were placed and the main attraction was Shri Radhe Shyam Gowshala were Lord Krishna was seen with many cows in the forest.

People who worship Lord Ganesha on Chaturthi day observe Gowri Puja the previous day. Gowri, symbolizing purity and austerity, is the mother of Lord Ganesha. She had practised a long penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Married as well as unmarried women worship the Goddess, the former for the longevity of their husbands, and the latter, to be blessed with a virtuous husband.

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

According to 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 Chaturthi day once, have to celebrate this festival every year by installing his idol thereafter.