Thousands of Hindus converged at the seaside and rivers on September 27 to immerse the murtis (images) of Lord Ganesh after a 11-day period of obeisance.
Hindus in T&T have joined in the worldwide observance of Lord Ganesh Jayanti (birthday) which started on September 16.
There is no doubt that the momentum of Ganesh Ustav has picked up within recent times. It could well surpass the annual observance of Divali.
Thousands of devout Hindus attended special prayer sessions, satsanghs and Lord Ganesh yajna at temples and at private homes.
Hindus abstained from all forms of alcohol, meats and merriment for several weeks preceding this period.
Lord Ganesh is revered by devotees as the remover of all obstacles and the bestower of wisdom. The elephant-headed deity is known as the son of Goddess Parvati, the Consort of Lord Shiva. Hindu mythology claims that Lord Ganesha was created from the sweat of Mother Parvati and as she prepared for the ritual bath she requested that Lord Ganesh not allow anyone to invade her privacy. Lord Shiva appeared and was refused entry which infuriated Him and as a result Ganesha’s head was removed.
Mobile parades with devotees chanting and singing with the murti (image) of Lord Ganesh constructed with clay or mud is worshipped and submerged into the ocean at the end of the celebrations.
All images were environmentally-friendly as this would help to create a cleaner and healthier society.
There is evidence that the worship of Lord Ganesh, which predates the Vedic period, was widespread in eastern countries and even reached Mexico in the west. Lord Ganesh is worshipped by different names throughout the world. For example, in Cambodia, He is worshipped as, Brahganesh; in China as Kwanshidiyik; in Tibet as Tchoprak; while in Japan, He is called Vinayaksha.
It has now become an international religious and spiritual phenomena and, besides in India, great attention is being given to it in many western counties.
Lord Ganesh Ustav has now become and accepted as an international symbol of Hinduism, and Lord Ganesh is the first deity in the Hindu pantheon of gods and goddesses, who is revered at all religious, cultural and spiritual occasions.
Hindu religious observances have become part of the national agenda starting with Divali.
Hinduism was introduced here between 1845 and 1917 when over 148,000 East Indians were brought from India, principally Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, to work on sugar and cocoa estates.
There are over 400 mandirs spread across the landscape.
Paras Ramoutar,
Caparo