Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated with fervour
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi in the southern parts of India, was celebrated with great devotion and ceremony both in homes, temples and community centres around Auckland and New Zealand.
Celebrations at the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple, Papakura – the only Ganesh temple in New Zealand was a described as a “huge success” by devotees.
The recent completion of the new hall to accommodate the thousands of devotees who witnessed and enjoyed the poojas conducted by the celebrated chief priest Sivsri Chandru Kurukkal and assisted by the second Priest Vasudeva Kurukkal proved timely for the convenience of the surging number of devotees.
More than 2500 devotees are reported to have witnessed and attended celebrations and ceremonies at the temple from all over New Zealand.
The first pooja commenced with the early morning pooja at 5.00am and carried out through the day with the finale at 7.30pm with 108 kalasa abishekam. Maha Prasad was served throughout the day. The grand pooja took place in the evening with the main and final arthi which commenced at 7.30pm.
Lord Ganesh was beautifully decorated with sandalwood paste.
Other major celebrations around Auckland were at the Halsey Drive School in Lynfield where the Marathi Mandal had its well-attended event and the NZ Amchis celebrations at Mount Eden. As well as the puja and a delicious repast, those present had the opportunity to listed to beautifully sung bhajans by Pandit Balachandra Bhat accompanied on the harmonium by Sameer Bhalodkar and on the tabla by young Shyamal Lall.
The celebrations at the Thiru Subramaniar temple in Ellerslie were also well attended, according to reports received by Indian Weekender.
What is Ganesh Charthurti?
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day when Lord Ganesh was born, he is also known as the god of wisdom and prosperity and remover of obstacles. Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati and his birth is believed in Hindu mythology, he was created through sandalwood paste and Parvati breathed life into him.
Parvati then went to have her bath and asked his son, Ganesh to stand guard and her instructions to Ganesha was not to let anyone in whilst she was bathing. It so happened that Lord Shiva returned home and to find this little Ganesh standing guard and obstructing him from entering his home.
Lord Shiva was very irritated by this obstruction and being stopped by a small child at this own doorstep, irritated and and the very annoyed Shiva in spite of his warnings and requests to give way, had to severe him and enter the house.
On seeing and realising what had happened the very upset mother, Parvati pleaded that the son be revived by Shiva. Shiva requested that a head be brought to replace the severed one and the only life being that of a elephant which was handed over to the Lord who revived the boy with the elephant's head.
It is this day when the Lord Ganesh was born that the day is celebrated as Ganesh Charturthi. This festival is celebrated in a huge way in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and is believed to be one of the fastest growing festivals around the world. In New Zealand this festival is celebrated in a grand style at the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple in Papakura.
– Ray Annamalai
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi in the southern parts of India, was celebrated with great devotion and ceremony both in homes, temples and community centres around Auckland and New Zealand.
Celebrations at the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple, Papakura – the only Ganesh temple in New...
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi in the southern parts of India, was celebrated with great devotion and ceremony both in homes, temples and community centres around Auckland and New Zealand.
Celebrations at the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple, Papakura – the only Ganesh temple in New Zealand was a described as a “huge success” by devotees.
The recent completion of the new hall to accommodate the thousands of devotees who witnessed and enjoyed the poojas conducted by the celebrated chief priest Sivsri Chandru Kurukkal and assisted by the second Priest Vasudeva Kurukkal proved timely for the convenience of the surging number of devotees.
More than 2500 devotees are reported to have witnessed and attended celebrations and ceremonies at the temple from all over New Zealand.
The first pooja commenced with the early morning pooja at 5.00am and carried out through the day with the finale at 7.30pm with 108 kalasa abishekam. Maha Prasad was served throughout the day. The grand pooja took place in the evening with the main and final arthi which commenced at 7.30pm.
Lord Ganesh was beautifully decorated with sandalwood paste.
Other major celebrations around Auckland were at the Halsey Drive School in Lynfield where the Marathi Mandal had its well-attended event and the NZ Amchis celebrations at Mount Eden. As well as the puja and a delicious repast, those present had the opportunity to listed to beautifully sung bhajans by Pandit Balachandra Bhat accompanied on the harmonium by Sameer Bhalodkar and on the tabla by young Shyamal Lall.
The celebrations at the Thiru Subramaniar temple in Ellerslie were also well attended, according to reports received by Indian Weekender.
What is Ganesh Charthurti?
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day when Lord Ganesh was born, he is also known as the god of wisdom and prosperity and remover of obstacles. Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati and his birth is believed in Hindu mythology, he was created through sandalwood paste and Parvati breathed life into him.
Parvati then went to have her bath and asked his son, Ganesh to stand guard and her instructions to Ganesha was not to let anyone in whilst she was bathing. It so happened that Lord Shiva returned home and to find this little Ganesh standing guard and obstructing him from entering his home.
Lord Shiva was very irritated by this obstruction and being stopped by a small child at this own doorstep, irritated and and the very annoyed Shiva in spite of his warnings and requests to give way, had to severe him and enter the house.
On seeing and realising what had happened the very upset mother, Parvati pleaded that the son be revived by Shiva. Shiva requested that a head be brought to replace the severed one and the only life being that of a elephant which was handed over to the Lord who revived the boy with the elephant's head.
It is this day when the Lord Ganesh was born that the day is celebrated as Ganesh Charturthi. This festival is celebrated in a huge way in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and is believed to be one of the fastest growing festivals around the world. In New Zealand this festival is celebrated in a grand style at the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple in Papakura.
– Ray Annamalai
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