Ganesha Chathurti 2014

[Vinayaka]

Thanks, Aup ... I believe it will grow everywhere. It's so much fun.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Now the 'pitrapaksha' (ancestors' fortnight) and then Durga puja and Diwali. Kerala had its Onam (Vamana avatara and return of Mahabali from Patala to check the welfare of Kerala people) and the birthday of Padmanabhaswamy. Onam song:


When Maveli ruled the land,
All the people were equal.
And people were joyful and merry;
They were all free from harm.
There was neither anxiety nor sickness,
Deaths of children were unheard of,
There were no lies,
There was neither theft nor deceit,
And no one was false in speech either.
Measures and weights were right;
No one cheated or wronged his neighbor.
When Maveli ruled the land,
All the people formed one casteless races

Also the time for annual boat races.

 

[Aupmanyav]

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

So, I had to share this picture from the day of Ganesh Visarjan from the first temple community I was a member of back a year ago:

I think we can all guess what my favorite part of this picture is.

One thing to really love about Hinduism, is that it is by and large a joyful religion.

:camp:

 

[Aupmanyav]

That is a wonderful 'modakam' (moda - joy, delight, pleasure; what delights is 'modaka').

 

[Vinayaka]

Here's a nice article by the New York Times on Chaturthi at the Flushing temple in New York City.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/nyregion/with-bells-and-bananas-a-time-to-worship-ganesh.html?_r=0