Visarjan concludes Ganesh Utsav celebrations for Radha Krishna Temple

Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Eden Terrace adjoined to the Mahatma Gandhi Centre hosted several prayer sessions between Thursday, September 13 and Monday, September 24 celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The temple that has seen a spike in the number of devotees turning up for organised special prayers, Ganesh Chaitra Katha, Bhajans, Yagna etc. on selected days to make the Ganesh Chaturthi festival a massive celebration for the community.

The festival observance started on Thursday, September 13, with the Ganesh Idol sthapana at the temple which is one of the most joyous and integral parts of the festival. Men, women and children dressed in their best ethnic outfits came to the temple carrying the Ganesh idol into the temple and starting the prayers.

Once the idol was placed inside the temple, devotees came with fruits, sweets, flowers, and other puja samagri, keeping some at the feet of the idol and established themselves with their families at a particular spot in the temple following the priest with the rituals and prayers.

Priest of the temple Acharya Dr Sri Devrambhai Raval led the Ganesh Chaitra Katha on for three evenings between 14-16 September, Ganesh Bhajan on Saturday 22, Yagna on Sunday, 23 September and concluding the festival with the Ganesh Murti Visarjan at Westhaven Marina on Monday, September 24.

The temple observing Ganesh Utsav received at least 400 to 500 devotees each day, and around 250 devotees came along with the priest to the visarjan ceremony.

Shri Radha Krishna Krishna Temple was planned to be built as the number of devotees to the temple increased from 1991. With the support from Auckland Indian Association Inc. and the support of the temple chairman and committee members, construction of the new temple started in October 2000. The final stages of the temple were completed in June 2001, and under the presidency of Harshadbhai Patel, the new temple was inaugurated between 7-9 June in 2001.

The next big event happening at the temple and Mahatma Gandhi Centre is the ten-day Navratri celebrations that starts from Wednesday, October 10 to Friday, October 19. The ten-day celebration witnesses devotees from every community enjoying the Navratri garba and dandiya festivities.

There are special pujas also planned for the upcoming Diwali festival, the biggest celebration of the Indian community.