Tuluvas Celebrate Shree Ganesha Chaturthi in Muscat
by Clarence Pinto
Pics: Dilip Correa
Daijiworld Media Network Muscat

Muscat, Sep 6:It was a grand celebration of popular Hindhu Festival of India at one of the oldest Hindhu Temples in Muscat.  Lord Ganesha devotees not only of Tulunadu origin but from all over India, especially from the region of Karnataka state attended in very large numbers this splendid festival of devotion and piety. Pithamber Alke, the main coordinator of the Lord Ganesha Celebrations Committee, senior most founder member of Tulu Koota Muscat, passionate devotee of Lord Ganesha and instrumental for organizing this festival for the last 24 years, spoke to www.daijiworld.com – “Lord Ganesha’s birth celebrations are organized in Muscat by Tuluvites and various Hindhu communities of India. We can say it is a secular festival of adoring Lord Ganesha. This is a very special occasion for all the Hindhu devotees to show their respect and admiration to Lord Ganesha. In fact, we gracefully welcome members of various Indian communities and religion attending this festival in large numbers.”

As S. K. Poojary, one of the committee members, a leading businessman of Tulunadu community in Oman, community worker and ardent Lord Ganesha devotee, narrated to www.daijiworld.com team – “We are organizing Shree Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations for the last 24 years. The celebrations are stretched for three days and every year we have more and more devotees are attending these grand celebrations. We are trying to exhibit a true Indian culture here at Muscat’s Hindhu Temple without compromising on our great devotion to Lord Ganesha. This is the only way that we can express our gratitude to the Lord Ganesha for everything He has bestowed on us, our families and our community.”

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.

Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. It is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, his blessing is absolutely necessary. According to the mythology, he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya - the general of the gods, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and Saraswati-the goddess of learning. There are numerous stories in Hindu mythology, associated with the birth of this elephant-headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (droplet shaped Indian sweet).

Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India.

In Muscat, Lord Ganesha Festival committee had been headed by stalwart community worker Pithamber Alke. Alke, for the last many years, is involved in several community activities including his enormous support to Coastal Karnataka culture and art. The other members of the committee are Dayanand Rao Kavoor, Prakash Naik Koni, Ramanand Kunder, S. K. Poojary, Ramesh Shettigar, Umesh Karkera, Shashidhar Shetty Mallar, P. Karunakar Rao, Ashok Kotian, Nagesh Shetty, Ravi Kanchan, Mangaldas Kamath who have worked relentlessly to make the grand arrangements for the festival at Muscat Temple. These celebrations and devotions are performed in great grandeur, zeal and devotion attracting many devotees from interior stations of the Sultanate.

This year celebrations commenced on 3rd September 2008 at 9.35 am with Prathistapana and Panchamita Abihsekha / Gana Homa followed by Ganapathi Sahasranama, Devotional songs by Shri Prakash Naik and Group. After performing Maha Pooja at 1.35 p.m., there were many devotional programs performed. The day’s celebrations concluded with Maha Pooja and Ranga Pooja at 10.05 p.m. The Celebrations of 4th September commenced at 6.30 am with Vedic Chants by Shri Vaidyanathan and Group followed by Arathi, There were several devotional programs through out the day and program concluded with Maha Pooja at 10.05 p.m.

The final day’s celebrations commenced at 7.30 a.m. with Vedic Chants by Shri Vaidyanathan and Group followed by Arathi. The grand finale of the whole program commenced at 8.35 p.m. with Maha Pooja and then Immersion of Lord Ganesha Statue followed by Maha Prasada.

Lord Ganesha festival’s poojas were performed by chief priest Shri Shankara Narayana Adiga, Kasaragod.

Shree Ganesha Festival Committee had worked relentlessly for the last few days to organize these festivities and offer complete comforts to the devotees arriving from interior stations. A real word of appreciation should go to each one of them.