Most Famous Ganeshas

[Bhadr]

Some very famous Ganapatis on their way to immersion. (From the net)
-Sri Lalbaugcha Raja : Visited by 1.5 million devotees daily
-Khairatabad Ganesh : Huge - 60 Feet Ganesh Murthi
-GSB Ganapati : Gold Ganesha - Covered in 70 Kgs of gold and 300 Kgs silver

Lalbaugcha Raja

Khairatabad Ganesha

GSB Ganapati

Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Agle Baras To Jaldi Aa
O Ganesha,our Lord,Come soon next year.

 

[George-ananda]

Still amazing to me the fantastic differences between India and my suburban America. It spins my head.

 

[Aupmanyav]

See the multitude, see the devotion, see the joy, that is India.
Photographs loaded during the past one week in Google Images:
https://www.google.co.in/search?q=G...+visarjan+2016&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbs=qdr:w

 

[Vinayaka]

Still amazing to me the fantastic differences between India and my suburban America. It spins my head.

If you go to the right Hindu temple in America at the right time, it gets close. There have been crowds of up to 20 000 people, and in the thick of it, it does feel like India. But as an advaitin not believing in temple worship, you wouldn't be privy to having that experience.

 

[George-ananda]

If you go to the right Hindu temple in America at the right time, it gets close. There have been crowds of up to 20 000 people, and in the thick of it, it does feel like India. But as an advaitin not believing in temple worship, you wouldn't be privy to having that experience.

Just one correction. I would never say 'I don't believe in temple worship' but I might have said it is not my thing.

 

[Vinayaka]

I stand corrected.

 

[Vinayaka]

At first I thought this was going to be about famous Ganesha temples, or particular Ganesha murthies. There are some nice ones. Ones I really liked were the Uchi Pillaiyar shrine, Pillairapatti temple, and the large Ganesha inside Madurai. The Rajaganapati in Salem was awesome too. Unfortunately, I've only been to TN.

 

[Bhadr]

Many more images!

Agle Baras To Jaldi Aa,Ganapati Bappa Moriya.
Come soon next year,O Ganesha,our Lord.

 

[Aupmanyav]

But as an advaitin not believing in temple worship, you wouldn't be privy to having that experience.

As an Indian and an advaitist, I still enjoy it. I am there in a 100,000 forms. It is me and me only, including the one whom you worship, there is no other (Stupid).
I thought as a Shaiva Siddhanti, you must have known that.
Agree wholly with George, not my thing, but not that I have any objection to others doing it.
An accommodating atheist.

Ganesha Visarjan with all these huge crowds all over India passed off peacefully (what we are afraid of is a terrorist strike). There were some drowning cases due to over-enthusiasm of young people which is unfortunate.

 

[ShivaFan]

Ganapati is the General of the Ganas. The Ganas are the body of attendant soldiers or troops of Lord Shiva. It has always been my aspiration that, when I grow up, I too can be a soldier in the Army of Shiva, and Gana, that I can server under the General Ganesha known as Ganapati. Outside the Ganas will be defeating the demons, while inside the aspirant savants may enjoy the Bharatanatyam dance known as the Ganapati Kauthuvam. This dance is also Ganesha in the form of motion. It becomes the largest Ganesha. Outside, I may die. But inside, the girls dance.

Let us see the eight arms Ganapati.

 

[Aupmanyav]

The Indian dances are not perfect in synchronization, not like what we see in ballets. Perhaps the South-Asian dancers are better in that respect. Kuchipudi is a beautiful dance form. Also, perhaps these dancers were a little short on 'abhinaya' in this particular dance (display of emotions). Indian classical dance is not just physical movement.

 

[ShivaFan]

I literally am mesmerized by them and this type of performance to the Divine and to the exciting moment when to be part of the audience, what can I say? It is hypnotically electric. I in fact am taken away with their style of every, almost robotic, facial methods and motions - like autopilot. The 'sharpness' for me, enhances it. The robotics enhance the gripping power. I see God is possessed them. When their eyes look right at me - I feel I am looking at a Powerful God that has possessed them and who stares OUT their eyes and body which are like puppets to the God. It is almost spooky and yet amazingly beautiful. I am in a form of enlivened ecstasy while finding it hard to even move my arms and breath, and then... I want to lift my arms in the sky and say "Bravo! Bravo! Bravooo!"

 

[Vinayaka]

As an Indian and an advaitist, I still enjoy it. I am there in a 100,000 forms. It is me and me only, including the one whom you worship, there is no other (Stupid).

Advaitins (and everyone else) differ in interpretation.

 

[Aupmanyav]

@ShivaFan , I am not a dance expert but I appreciate the art. As far as I know, there are perhaps eight movements of the body which should take place simultaneously for full expression of the emotion..

"Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles."
"The Nritya is slower and expressive aspect of the dance that attempts to communicate feelings, storyline particularly with spiritual themes in Hindu dance traditions. In a nritya, the dance-acting expands to include silent expression of words through gestures and body motion set to musical notes. The Kuchipudi actor articulates a story (particularly of Krishna) or a spiritual message. This part of a repertoire is more than sensory enjoyment, it aims to engage the emotions and mind of the viewer."
"Like many classical Indian arts, Kathakali is a dance as well as acting. The actors speak a "sign language", where the word part of the character's dialogue are expressed through "hand signs (mudras)", while emotions and mood is expressed through "facial and eye" movements." Etc.
Quotes from relevant Wikipedia pages.

Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, Mohiniattam.

 

[jyoti82]

Still amazing to me the fantastic differences between India and my suburban America. It spins my head.

I am disabled and can no longer go to India. I live in the USA. The temple I go to had such a great Ganesha Chaturthi, it really felt like I was in India.The mandir was packed. There was outdoor program with all kind of entertainment. Outdoor procession, shenai player, aarti pujas. just everything. It was so great. I finally felt happy and accepted that I can no longer live in India because at mandir its just like India. I had hip replacement. I can no longer squat or sit on the floor. If I do, I can ruin the surgery. For now I need to use a special cart to get around. In my city, the steps on the bus can be lowered or there is a ramp to walk up on the bus. Its easy to get on.Also for people like me who have very little money, buses are free.So I was able to go to mandir every day and stay all day.So now I am grateful and happy to Ganeshji that he put me in this position. Cause where I live its like India. I also have nice one room apartment. I can do puja, aarti in my apartment,cook, sleep bathe. Go to mandir when I want, almost every day. I finally feel happy.

 

[jyoti82]

@ShivaFan , I am not a dance expert but I appreciate the art. As far as I know, there are perhaps eight movements of the body which should take place simultaneously for full expression of the emotion..

"Bharatanatyam style is noted for its fixed upper torso, legs bent or knees flexed out combined with spectacular footwork, a sophisticated vocabulary of sign language based on gestures of hands, eyes and face muscles."
"The Nritya is slower and expressive aspect of the dance that attempts to communicate feelings, storyline particularly with spiritual themes in Hindu dance traditions. In a nritya, the dance-acting expands to include silent expression of words through gestures and body motion set to musical notes. The Kuchipudi actor articulates a story (particularly of Krishna) or a spiritual message. This part of a repertoire is more than sensory enjoyment, it aims to engage the emotions and mind of the viewer."
"Like many classical Indian arts, Kathakali is a dance as well as acting. The actors speak a "sign language", where the word part of the character's dialogue are expressed through "hand signs (mudras)", while emotions and mood is expressed through "facial and eye" movements." Etc.
Quotes from relevant Wikipedia pages.

Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, Mohiniattam.

I love this dance.At mandir my friend granddaughter did this dance. it was beautiful. I love it so much.

 

[jyoti82]

Today, the day after Ganesha Chaturthi I go to the mandir. Its so quiet. Only a few people. I miss aarti. I go there too late. I greet My lord Ganeshji. I was so happy to be there. I wish I could be there every day all day.

 

[George-ananda]

I am disabled and can no longer go to India. I live in the USA. The temple I go to had such a great Ganesha Chaturthi, it really felt like I was in India.The mandir was packed. There was outdoor program with all kind of entertainment. Outdoor procession, shenai player, aarti pujas. just everything. It was so great. I finally felt happy and accepted that I can no longer live in India because at mandir its just like India. I had hip replacement. I can no longer squat or sit on the floor. If I do, I can ruin the surgery. For now I need to use a special cart to get around. In my city, the steps on the bus can be lowered or there is a ramp to walk up on the bus. Its easy to get on.Also for people like me who have very little money, buses are free.So I was able to go to mandir every day and stay all day.So now I am grateful and happy to Ganeshji that he put me in this position. Cause where I live its like India. I also have nice one room apartment. I can do puja, aarti in my apartment,cook, sleep bathe. Go to mandir when I want, almost every day. I finally feel happy.

I am very happy for your opportunity to practice meaningfully. My comment was just the difference in the indigenous cultures of the two countries.

 

[Aupmanyav]

In my city, the steps on the bus can be lowered or there is a ramp to walk up on the bus. Its easy to get on.Also for people like me who have very little money, buses are free. So I was able to go to mandir every day and stay all day.

Good that you are in a place where there are all these facilities. Differently abled people in India can only dream of them. Travel is free here too. Facilities are improving but slowly. India got a few medals in the paralympics and the sports persons were financially well-rewarded by state governments.

 

[Bhadr]

Ganesha Vlogs

BBC

This is cute.

This is very different!