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Praise be to Surya, the Sun God
As he starts his Northerly trek Grace us with Warmth and Light Happy Sankranti to All! |
Makar Sankranti – To Brighter Days
Dussehra: Glory to Durga Devi 2011

Shristhī-sthīthī-laya kārinī Wishing you all a Wonderful Dassara. |
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:
- Dussehra: Celebrating Devi’s Grace 2008
- Dussehra: Celebrating Devi’s Grace 2007
- Dassara 2005
- Durga Devi
- Mahalakshmi Temple, Goa
- Meeting Amma in Boston
Ganapati Visarjan: Wadala & Lalbaug cha Raja

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

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
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

The Best of Mumbai: Matunga Flower Sellers during Ganapati Festival. Looking forward to more. [Read more...]
Diwali: Madurai Meenakshi Temple

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On this joyous Diwali,
Wishing you and all your loved ones God’s amazing grace. Coz, with it comes Happy Diwali! |
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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
- Ganapati & Gauri Puja 2010
- Ganesh Chaturthi – Preparations from the Day Before
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2009
- Flower Sellers at Dadar
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2008
- Ganesh Chaturthi 2007
- Ganapati Bappa 2005
- Saraswati Lakshmi & Ganapati
- Dadar Flower Market during Ganapati
Ganapati and Gauri Puja

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
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Marathoner, Professor, Author, Citizen Journalist, Fitness Nut, Foodie, Meera's father, Hindu, Scientist, Photographer.