Blog Archives

Ganesh Galli 2012 – Pashupatinath Temple

Posted by Admin

This year, the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Utsav Mandal has recreated the famous shrine in Nepal to give devotees a truly spiritual experience

If you have always cherished the dream of visiting the famous Pashupatinath mandir in Nepal, you have a reason to smile this year — the shrine is being recreated at the famous Ganesh Galli Ganpati.

In the past, the mandal has successfully recreated various holy pilgrimage spots situated all around India. Pashupatinath mandir is a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is regarded as one of the most holy sites for Hindus, situated in Kathmandu on the bank of the River Baghmati.

The temple dates back to 400 AD. “Our main aim behind recreating Pashupatinath mandir in Mumbai is because there are many Hindus who wish to visit the holy site in Nepal but don’t get a chance to do so. So we thought that we should come up with the concept of Pashupatinath mandir so that people feel that they have actually visited the mandir in Nepal,” said Sanjay Sawant, vice-president of the Ganesh Galli Mandal.

This year, the idol at the Ganesh Galli mandal is similar to the one that was installed in 1989, a creation of the well-known sculptor Dinanath Velinge, who first started sculpting massive Ganesh idols.

The same idol was remade by Velinge’s apprentice and now famous sculptor Vijay Khatu. The contract for designing the replica of Pashupatinath Temple was given to Biharilal Giri, owner of Maharaja Arts. Giri started work two months away from the festival and around 40-50 artisans and worked round the clock to turn the vision into a reality.

The organisers of the mandal are known for various charitable activities like blood donation. “It is a very proud moment for me, as I am going to make the same idol which was made by my guru Dinanath Vilenge in 1989 at Ganesh Galli and I am very thankful to the mandal for giving me this chance,” said Khatu.

Source: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2012/aug/210812-mumbai-See-Pashupatinath-temple-in-Ganesh-Galli-this-year.htm

Posted in Ganesh Chaturti 2012, Ganesh Festival in Maharashtra, Ganesh Festival in Mumbai, Ganesh Mandals, Mumbaicha Raja - Ganesh Galli (1977 to 2015), Sarvajanik Ganesh Installations

Lord Ganesh is pan-Asia favourite

Sep 11

Posted by Admin

Bhagyashree Kulthe, DNA

Ganesh, the god of wisdom, is a pan-Asia favourite. He appears on everything from currency notes, temples and artefact shops in South-East and Far-East Asia. However, can you imagine Lord Ganesh without a big tummy?

Thailand‘s Ganesh idols and images are slender, compared to the Indian Ganesh, while the Japanese actually worship a twin Ganesh. Though Ganesh is worshipped by Indians settled abroad, the deity is adored and worshipped in many countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and even Bali.

Ganesh is worshipped in most south-east Asian countries. The Indonesian currency note carries the picture of Ganesh.

Even though it is an Islamic republic, they consider Ganesh as the ‘god of success.’ Also, statues of Ganesh from 8th to 11th centuries have been found in Indonesia.

According to information available on various websites, Ganesh is called Kangiten and Ganabachi in Japan. Even in Afghanistan there were many carvings and scriptures on Ganesh, which were later destroyed.

In Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam he is considered the ‘destructor of obstacles’. Ganesh has been a major deity in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam and their iconography are slightly different from the pot-bellied Indian Ganesh. They also have shrines where Ganesh is worshipped.

Nepal, Sri Lanka, the islands of Java and Sumatra have close Hindu connections, as per Hindu mythology. In Malaysia, Thailand and Tibet the deity’s presence is attributed to Buddhism, as Ganesh is considered God Vinayak in that religion.

To some other countries the deity probably reached through traders who travelled from India. International Collectors Society (ICS) president, SR Bhat, who has a collection of several Ganesh idols and images from Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, Nepal and Bali told DNA, “Islands of Java, Sumatra, Bali and countries like Sri Lanka were a part of ancient India. Its mention is found in Indian mythology and epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. So, it is not surprising that Ganesh is worshipped there,” said Bhat.

Bhat got an idol from Thailand which depicted a lean Ganesh. When Bhat asked the Thai shopkeeper about it he replied, “Ganesh goes to see God Shiva to Kailash (the Himalayan mountain ranges, abode of Shiva and Parvati) everyday. How can he be plump?” Ganesh is supposed to be destroyer of evil, the one who removes obstacles (Vignaharta) even in countries other than India, said Bhat. “They therefore worship him more religiously for success of any work,” he added.