Ahhh... The time of festivals!
Most festivities in the world last for about two or three days, but not these ones. The time of 'Ganesh Chaturthi' has come, where for eleven whole days, Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, is worshipped. The Maratha community is exclusively known for its pompous and grand celebration of the festival, and most Hindu families from Maharashtra and neighboring states celebrate this festival with great vigor and pomp, for an odd number of days. The festival finally ends on the day of 'Anant Chaturdashi', on which all the families and temples with an idol of Ganesha, around the world, immerse the idol in a lake, river or the sea, marking the God's temporary departure from the world, and ask the Lord for his blessings, and beg him to come back the next year.
But enough of the facts. Coming to the most important part - Besides the prayers and the festive atmosphere, this festival is a food lover's delight. For eleven whole days, sweets and other amazing food is prepared continuously, and more and more food and sweets come in from visiting friends, and family.
According to tradition, a new type of sweet is supposed to be prepared for and offered to the lord and the family, which absolutely AMAZING. Modaks, Namkeen, coconut and sugarcane everyday! In these eleven days, the Lord is remembered, good food is cooked, and diets are forgotten. With Ukadiche Modak (Sweet stuffed rice dumplings), Puran Poli (Sweetened legume flatbreads), Naan Khatai (Cookies) and Karanjis (Fried coconut dumplings), even thinking about diets and calorie counting is an abomination and absolutely impossible. How am I able to tell you this? Trust me, I know about this. Someone who gained four kilograms already, should know, and can tell you all this with conviction. That just proves the point that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in my house, are absolutely, positively wonderful. I really wish, that after this year's celebrations, the festival returns the following year, with double the fun, and double the sweets.
*Shudder* These festivities will make me spend countless hours in the gym. But who cares for now? Let's enjoy the festival, and all that the Lord gives us during this time!
गणपती बाप्पा मोरया, पुढच्या वर्षी लवकर या!
Ganapati bappa morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya!
Oh, my lord Ganapati, come back to us the next year!
Most festivities in the world last for about two or three days, but not these ones. The time of 'Ganesh Chaturthi' has come, where for eleven whole days, Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles, is worshipped. The Maratha community is exclusively known for its pompous and grand celebration of the festival, and most Hindu families from Maharashtra and neighboring states celebrate this festival with great vigor and pomp, for an odd number of days. The festival finally ends on the day of 'Anant Chaturdashi', on which all the families and temples with an idol of Ganesha, around the world, immerse the idol in a lake, river or the sea, marking the God's temporary departure from the world, and ask the Lord for his blessings, and beg him to come back the next year.
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| The 'puja' being performed |
But enough of the facts. Coming to the most important part - Besides the prayers and the festive atmosphere, this festival is a food lover's delight. For eleven whole days, sweets and other amazing food is prepared continuously, and more and more food and sweets come in from visiting friends, and family.
 |
| The decorated altar in our house... |
According to tradition, a new type of sweet is supposed to be prepared for and offered to the lord and the family, which absolutely AMAZING. Modaks, Namkeen, coconut and sugarcane everyday! In these eleven days, the Lord is remembered, good food is cooked, and diets are forgotten. With Ukadiche Modak (Sweet stuffed rice dumplings), Puran Poli (Sweetened legume flatbreads), Naan Khatai (Cookies) and Karanjis (Fried coconut dumplings), even thinking about diets and calorie counting is an abomination and absolutely impossible. How am I able to tell you this? Trust me, I know about this. Someone who gained four kilograms already, should know, and can tell you all this with conviction. That just proves the point that Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in my house, are absolutely, positively wonderful. I really wish, that after this year's celebrations, the festival returns the following year, with double the fun, and double the sweets.
 |
| All the sweets...! |
*Shudder* These festivities will make me spend countless hours in the gym. But who cares for now? Let's enjoy the festival, and all that the Lord gives us during this time!
गणपती बाप्पा मोरया, पुढच्या वर्षी लवकर या!
Ganapati bappa morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya!
Oh, my lord Ganapati, come back to us the next year!
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| The festival celebrations in Mumbai! |
The source of the image above: http://www.smstalk.in/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ganesh-chaturthi-festival-in-mumbai.jpg
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