Pondy Celebrates Ganesha Chathurthi

Its Ganesha Chathurthi and streets are busy with artists from in and around Pondicherry lining up their clay idols of Lord Ganesha. For many the day begins with buying the idol and then decorating it with a small woven umbrella and jewelry of beads.

Ganesha Chathurthi, also known as Vinayaka Charthuthi, is celebrated for three days. Idols of Ganesha as tall as 20 feet are installed around the town and poojas are performed twice a day. But smaller idols of 2 feet are bought by people to keep in their houses and do poojas.

Clay idols are more preferable over the ones made of plaster of paris as the former is more eco-friendly. As prasaatham kozhukattai, mothagam and aval pori (a mix of flattened rice and puffed rice) is offered in temples as well as at the temporary installation of these idols. These sweets are also individually prepared in most households.

In Saram area, a 20 feet tall Ganesha idol, painted in vibrant colours is installed and many cultural performances of dance and music are organised. People come from all around Puducherry to seek blessings of this majestic God. The Manakula Vinayagar temple with their special poojas for the occasion is also visited by many on this auspicious day. Devotees line up at the temple from early in the morning to get the darshan of the Lord.

After three days of religious poojas, where many people offer their prayers to Lord Ganesha, the idols from different places of installation are taken on a royal procession through the streets finally reaching the Bay of Bengal sea for immersion. This procession is a sight to behold with Ganesha idols of different sizes from 2 feet to 20 feet, taken on a ride.

It is believed that on this festival, when a Ganesha statue is brought to your house and poojas are performed, the Lord stays with you, helping you in your journey by removing all the obstacles. And when on the final day he is taken out on a procession, he takes with him all the negative force from your house, blessing you with prosperity and bliss.