GOD OF WISDOM-OUR GANESHA!

11th September,2010
Saturday
Dear Friends,
     Good Morning from the land of sea,songs and sand.I reached here and joined duty.We have three days holidays and so there is enough time to finish the pending work.
   Today is so auspicious.Here,today  we celebrate Eid and Vinayaka Chaturthi!I went to Shree Ayyappa Temple today morning and I feel blessed after each visit to temple.Arrangements are getting done for the installation of Lord Ganesh at Ayyappa Temple.There was rush.Today is Saturday too.Many devotees do come for Lord Ayyappan's darshan.The Lord,The sandalwood paste,flowers offered to Lord and Theertham give us a lot of positive energy.
The state is in aflurry of excitement.Ganesh Chaturthi and Eid preparations are in full swing.

AUM SHRI GANESHAAYA NAMAHA!The four letter mantra is chanted to begin the prayer to Lord Ganesha,an embodiment of wisdom,intellect,knowledge,bliss,good luck and fortune,teh remover of obstacles and the guardian of all existing beings occupies a highly venerated place in the Hindu pantheon of thirty-three million Gods and Goddesses.He is the most beloved and and is revered for being merciful and endower of joy and success.Let us pray together teh most popular stotra..........
Vakratunda mahakaaya,
Sooryakoti Samaprabhaa
Nirvighnam kurumedeva
Sarvakaaryeshu sarvada
The stotra means-You of teh twisted trunk and massive body.with the dazzle and light of millions of suns,lead me on apath that has no obstacles nor hindrances,clearing teh way in all that I do,ever and always.
Devotees were eagerly waiting to welcome teh harbinger of goodwill and destroyer of ill-luck.
Chubby and smiling elephant headed Ganesh is the  eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.He is invoked before any auspicious beginnings.Ganesh Chaturthi is also referred as Chavath.His four hands hold a conch,a discus,a bowl of sweets  and a water lilly.Ganesha is pot-bellied and is always attended to by his vehicle -the Rat.Worshipping caly idols of Lord Ganesha is an ancient custom.I have many small and cute Ganesha idols received as gifts.

Lord Ganesha has written the epic,Mahabharata,dictated by the sage Vyasa.So,Ganesh is always considered of the God of Learning,Wisdom,prosperity and Success.
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival is celebrated from the fourth day [Chaturthi] of the month of Bhadrapad of the
Hindu Calendar.This year,the  day of Chaturthi coincides with the completion of Ramzan.The Muslims break their fast after sighting the moon,while the Hindus do not lay sight on the moon on the day of Chaturthi.Devotees carried idols of Lord Ganesha yesterday for installation.

Chavath follows the rainy season.During this time,the state is in lush green and abounds in natural wealth like fruits and vegetables.Even in the wild,one finds different kinds of fruits wrapped by striking colours and plants in full bloom.Such properties that appear everywhere before the festival are seen hanging to the Matoli infront of the idol.Matoli is the main decoration at the  chouth.A frame of bamboo or beetle nut palm is hung in front of the Ganesh.Each square in the frame is 8 to 12 inches with 16 to 24 squares.Bunch of wild fruits and cultivated crops are hung on teh Matolli.The tradition is strictly adhered that athread from the Kevni plant only has to eb used to tie the frame to the roof,bunches of mango leaves and fruits.Variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables like cucumbers,white gourds,chibud,pumpkins,tangerines,bread fruitetc.and bunches of local fruits like ambade,coconuts,Shiptem[raw beetle nut bunches],half-ripe banana are used traditionally.Besides this,specially brought wild fruits like Kanglam,Phaglam,Mattam are also used.All of them are arranged beautifully according to their sizes and colours.The fruits used for the Matolli are to be plucked carefully and should not touch the ground.

The festivals are a time for family reunions,community celebrations and functions.It is also a time for large gatherings and movements of people.Festivals bring together those who are far and near.Devotees enjoy bursing fireworks.All are enthusiastic.The Matolis are ready,the crackers have been bought andladoos,neoreos and modaks are all set to be gorged on over this week.Ganesh Chaturthi arrives after Shravan's month long diktat of abstience.
In Goa,Hindus go to their ancestoral homes to participate in the rituals and celebrations.This reminds me of Onam celebrations when Keralites across the globe reach their dear ones.Goa goes to hyper mode in its celebrations,but with specific festivities in villages and ancestoral houses which may last between one and half day to seven,eleven and twenty one days.Now a days it is celebrate dfor one and half day due to work commitments.The villagers during the afternoon and night religious ceremonies visit each others' houses and join in singing the aartis of the  tunes of the local drum called teh Ghumat,an earthen pot covered.
Emersion of teh idols is amagnificient event and every villager,young and ols join into sing,Ganapati Bapa Moraya,Pudiya Varsha Lavakar Ya meaning-Oh,Lord Ganesha,please come early next year.
Lord Ganesh loves modak, a  jaggery and grated coconut paste in adeep fried crispy patti pouch.A visitor to any Goan Hindu home shall find delicatessen such as neureos,spicy shev,chivda and many such mouth watering delicacies.Twentyone modaks are steamed and served to Gord with neoroes,ladoos and fruits.The food is considered to be lord's favourite.
Devotees are running around picking up items from their lists.Everything from decorating the home to gifts for loved one.This not only marks an auspicious time on the Hindu Calendar,but the beginning of the business boom.
Ganesh Chaturthi signifies the inter relation of mankind and nature.The entire celebration worships nature with a strong belief that the very existence and sustainance of all creatures in the universe rely on nature.The same is reflected in the formal prayer-Prithivi say shalini-abundance's in natural wealth also reflected in the  folk lore;oral traditions.
Crackers and Bhajana are the trademark of the huge processions that wind their way to waterbodies to immerse Lord Ganesha's statue.With a request to return next year devotees return homes to the chores of their regular lives.
                GANAPATI BAPPA MORIYA!
May Lord Ganesh bless one and all!
     It's Anu signing off.........
Requesting to celebrate an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi,
Pleading you to forget teh ill feelings and get back to your lost friends,
Reminding to teach the rituals and importance of each festival to the young generation,
Assuring Anu's sincere love for ever,
Hey,tell me your modak is ready?:)
Wishing you a HAPPY VINAYAKA CHATURTHI,
                                                   Sasneham,
                                                           Anu