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Makar Sankranti – To Brighter Days

Makar Sankranti 2012 Greetings drawn by Chitra Ulhas Nayak pics by Arun Shanbhag

Praise be to Surya, the Sun God
As he starts his Northerly trek

Grace us with Warmth and Light

Happy Sankranti to All!

[Read more...]

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Dussehra: Glory to Durga Devi 2011

Durga Devi preparation, Mumbai 2011 by Arun Shanbhag

Shristhī-sthīthī-laya kārinī
Cause of this creation, sustenance & dissolution

Wishing you all a Wonderful Dassara.
M&M & A


In Mumbai, even as the Ganapati celebration was ending, preparations were in full swing for Navratri. During one of my shopping jaunts, I came across this workshop where Durga Devi murthy’s were being crafted in clay. As I watched, this very talented artist quickly shaped an upper arm. The face, hands and feet are typically molded separately and affixed. These murthy’s still needed to be finished, dried and colored before being used in puja.


See Durga Stotram (Ode to Durga Devi) from my book Prarthana: A Book of Hindu Psalms


Other Durga Devi posts:


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Wedding Rangoli

Rangoli - Shubh Vivah (Congratulations for an auspicious wedding) by Arun Shanbhag
Shubh Vivah = Congratulations for an auspicious Wedding!
Saw this hand draw Rangoli outside a wedding hall in Pali, near Pune; approx. 6-7 ft across. The white is usually rice powder, which the birds and ants are expected to eat away. Spectacular, no?

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Ganapati Visarjan: Wadala & Lalbaug cha Raja

GSB Muth Wadala Ganapati 2011 Amol Kamat
During the 11 days of Ganapati, the murthy is brought into our homes and the divine spirit invited to reside and bless us all. During these days, we treat Ganapati as a valued guest and shower him with the best of flowers, fruits and delicious foods. Friends and relatives visit in awe at the divine presence. At festivals end, we bid farewell and the material form is immersed into a water body so as not to soil it. Bidding farewell to our divine visitor is called visarjan. In villages, Ganapati is dunked in the home or community well, or nearby lake or river. In Mumbai, the murthys are carried with pomp and celebration, with much dancing to one of many beaches and immersed in the waters.
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Ganapati at the GSB Muth, Wadala 2011

Ganapati at GSB Wadala by Arun Shanbhag

The GSB Wadala Muth Ganapati holds some of my fondest memories of sarvajanik (public) Ganapati. At 8 ft, it is not the largest of the Ganapatis, but certainly one of the most artistically excuted and ‘constant.’ Even though the artisans craft a new murthy from clay each year, this murthy has not changed one bit over the last three decades. The size is limited by the doorway to the hall where this Ganapati sits. The GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati contrarily, is built on and sits on a trolley which is covered under a huge outdoor tent. On visarjan day, the stage is dismantled and the trolley with the Ganapati is pulled out. The Wadala Ganapati is wheeled/carried out of the hall, placed on a trailer and taken to Shivaji Park for immersion.
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Ganapati at GSB Seva Mandal 2011

GSB Seva Mandal Ganapati 2011 photos pictures by Arun Shanbhag

The GSB Seva Mandal is one of the largest Sarvajanik (public) Ganapati celebrations in Mumbai. The murthy is 14 ft tall and all pujas (services) are performed in Sanskrit following traditions prescribed in ancient scriptures. See pics from our 2009 visit here.
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Flower Sellers at Matunga

Matunga Flower Sellers by Arun Shanbhag
The Best of Mumbai: Matunga Flower Sellers during Ganapati Festival. Looking forward to more. [Read more...]

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Diwali: Madurai Meenakshi Temple

picture of Oil Lamps at the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai Diwali Deepavali Greetings

On this joyous Diwali,
Wishing you and all your loved ones
God’s amazing grace.

Coz, with it comes
Peace, Good Health and Success!

Happy Diwali!
Meera, M & A


[Read more...]

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Video: Best of Mumbai Ganapati Street Dancing

Ganapati is a fabulous time for our extended family. At the end of five days of festivities, Ganapati Bappa is taken in a procession to Chowpatty for consigning to the waters. Behind the truck bearing the Ganapati, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, meera, friends and family, all walk or dance along.

Enjoy the unique ishtyle of Mumbai street dancing!


See different Ganapati greetings


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Ganapati and Gauri Puja

Aarti of Ganapati Mumbai Arun Shanbhag

Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra tarakam
nema vidhyuto bhanti kutoyamagnihi |
tameva bhantam anubhati sarvam
tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhati ||

Sun cannot illumine him, nor the moon, nor the stars
Lightning cannot, much less this little flame I wave |
Verily, when he shines everything is illuminated
By his light alone all of us shine ||

~ Kathopanishad II v 15


[Read more...]

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