G for Grandma

G for Grandma



Aditya Sinha
08.04.2020

G for Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is the largest Festival in Maharashtra & adjoining states. It is also known as Vināyaka Caturthi, Gaṇēśa Caturthī or Vināyaka Cavithi & is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the elephant-headed god, Lord  Ganesha. Celebrations are traditionally held on the fourth day of the first fortnight (Shukla Chaturthi) in the month of Bhaadrapada in the Hindu calendar, usually August or September in the Gregorian calendar. The festival generally lasts ten days, ending on the fourteenth day of the fortnight (Anant Chaturdashi).

Celebration :

The festival is celebrated in public and at home. The public celebration involves installing clay images of Ganesha in public pandals (temporary shrines) and group worship. At home, an appropriately-sized clay image is installed and worshiped with family and friends. At the end of the festival, the idols are immersed (and dissolve) in a body of water such as a lake or pond.

It is celebrated throughout India, especially in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra it is a grand celebration along with dance & dhol and tasha (local musical drums).

The festival begins with the selection and installation of a clay murti (idol). At home, families decorate a small, clean corner with flowers and other colourful items before installing the idol. Public preparations begin weeks in advance with temporary structures (such as mandapas and pandals) funded by contributions from local residents and businesses. When the idol is installed, it and its shrine are decorated with flowers and other materials.

Foods

The primary sweet dish during the festival is modak (in Marathi). A modak is a dumpling made from rice or wheat flour, stuffed with grated coconut, jaggery, dried fruits and other condiments and steamed or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji (karjikai in Kannada), similar to modak in composition and taste but in a semicircular shape. This sweet meat is called Nevri in Goa and is synonymous with Ganesh festival amongst the Goans and the Konkani diaspora.

Mythological Reference :

Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated to honour God Ganesha's birthday, the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Ganesha is known by 108 different names and is the Lord of arts and sciences and the deva of wisdom. He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies as he's considered the God of beginnings. He's widely and dearly referred to as Ganapati or Vinayaka.

There are two different versions about Ganesha's birth. One has it that Goddess Parvati created Ganesha out of dirt off her body while having a bath and set him to guard her door while she finishes her bath. Shiva who has gone out, returned at that time, but as Ganesha didn't know of him, stopped him from entering. An angry Shiva severed the head of Ganesha after a combat between the two. Parvati was enraged and Shiva promised Ganesha will live again. The devas who went in search of a head facing north of a dead person could manage only the head of an elephant. Shiva fixed the elephant's head on the child and brought him back to life.

The other legend has it that Ganesha was created by Shiva and Parvati on request of the Devas, to be a vighnakartaa (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas (demonic beings), and a vighnahartaa (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas.

Aditya Sinha

08.04.2016

That’s for today with F. Tomorrow it would be another festival with “G”
List of Other Festivals : Anant Chaturdashi, Akshay Tritiya ,Buddha Purnima, Basant Panchmi, Baisakhi,  Chhatha, Diwali/Deepawali, Easter, Festival of Breaking Fast - Eid ul Fitr

For my parallel second Challenge blog with A pls visit : Let the Soul Pour

For other A to Z challenge blogs visit : A to Z Challenge 2016

G for Government in Exile – The Tibetan Govt. & Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj

G for Government in Exile – The Tibetan Govt. & Dalai Lama in McLeod Ganj

In Himachal at McLoed Ganj (11 Km uphill from Dharamshala) proudly is the seat of the exile govt. of Tibet. Since the visit of 14th Dalai Lama to Dharamshala in 1959, the Tibetan’s are taking refuge here after when over 80,000 Tibetans where led by their religious and temporal leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama who had fled the Chinese occupation of their country and established a refugee community at Dharamsala in India after the destruction of their culture and religion whereby all except eight of the country's 6,259 monasteries, nunneries and temples where completely destroyed.The Tibetan Parliament in – exile was thus instituted in 1960 as the highest legislative body of the Tibetan refugee community and runs its govt. from here. Today around 1.5 Lac Tibetan refugee stay in India in which more than 50% stay in Mc Loed Ganj and Dharamshala area.

Tibetan Parlieament in Exile

Picture Source http://www.tibet.vopus.org/ENGLISH/ARCHIVOS/noticias%202011/03%20-%20Dalai%20Lama%20s%20Message%20to%2014th%20Tibetan%20Parliament%20in%20Exile.htm

So when you are on a visit to Dharamshala, make sure you stay at least a day in McLoed Ganj and visit Dalai Lama residence ( also called Dalai Lama Temple) and the Tibetan Parliament situated along with it.

McLeodGanj which is also called as the Little Lhasa is at 1770 m altitude. The famous places to visit here are:

Dalai Lama Temple This historical site as stated above is an impressive monastery with larger than life images of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avaloktwshwara. 

Dalai Lama Temple

Bhagsu Nag temple : Just a Km from saat rah or main McLoedGanj 7 roads crossing is the ancient temple of Bhagsu nag. It is a popular picnic spot and the famous slate quarries are close. There is a fresh water spring in close vicinity.

Bhagsu Water Fall near Bhagsu Nag Temple

Dal Lake: On the way to Naddi approx. 11 km from Dharamsala and surrounded by deodar trees is Dal Lake which offers an enchanting and serene picnic spot.

Dal Lake 

Naddi : It is a small village situated at a height of 7,152 feet above sea level. It offers a magnificent view of the Dhauladhar mountain range in the north and the vast expanse of the lush green Kangra Valley in the south. Naddi is situated away from the hustle and bustle of McLeod Ganj and is the first place to get snow fall during the winters.

The Wilderness of St. John’s Church : St. John in the Wilderness is situated just before McLeod Ganj under the shade of deodar branches. There is also a memorial erected over the body of the British Viceroy, Lord Elgin who died at Dharamsala in 1863.

The main area of McLeod Ganj is just a crossing of roads leading to the different tourist spots surrounded by market and restaurants which offer a great tourist hangout and you can spend hours here enjoying the tourist euphoria.

Tomorrow  it would be H

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge