The festival of 10 days |31 August 2019

All are invited to receive the blessing of Lord Vinayagar on Monday

One of the most important and auspicious festivals on the Hindu calendar – ‘Vinayagar Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi’, the birth anniversary of Lord Vinayagar (the Lord with an elephant face) – will be celebrated on Monday September 2, with its high traditional values.

Lord Vinayagar is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and also the elder brother to Lord Murugan for whom another highlighted festival called Thaipusam is celebrated during the first phase of every year.

One instance which we can relate to the brilliance of the foremost God of Hindus, Vinayagar, also known for his wisdom and wise nature is that in every Hindu family and all over India whenever we do something auspicious we offer a prayer to him first.

On occasion a mango was gifted to the Lord by a hermit and his parents couldn’t decide whom to give it to as there was only one fruit and there were two children. So Lord Shiva decided to initiate a competition between Lord Vinayagar and his younger brother, to win the gifted mango. He proposed that the one who first circles the world three times successfully and returns to their parents would get the mango. His younger brother who had a peacock as his vahan (mode of transport) immediately went on his mission, whereas Lord Vinayagar had a mice as his vahan. Having a wise mind and a calm thinking nature, he started circling his parents three times and said happily that he had finished the task. His action surprised his mother who asked ‘how is it so?’ to which he explained that parents are as equal to the whole world. They are the ones who bring a life into this world and raise it to be a self-sustained person. What else could be vast and bigger than parents to me, as you both are my world so I circumnavigated you both?

The happy and amazed parents told their eldest son that he had won the prize!

In India, the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival is celebrated with vibrant decorations and processions all over the country. On the final phase of the celebrations, the idols of Lord Vinayagar, made with clay, are immersed into the sea.

Here in Seychelles, the Vinayagar Chathurthi is a 10-day festival which started on August 24, 2019 where special prayers are offered to Lord Vinayagar both in the morning and evening and by decorating the temple with grand foyer lights and flower garlands. Holy bonfires are lit and different types of medicinal herbs are put in it and burnt by chanting auspicious mantras which help purify the temple and the devotees present.

In ancient Hindu traditions these medicinal herbs were used in a medical way which now science has also accepted and proven. Every day for the 10 days, the Lord Vinayagar’s idol is bathed by different types of ingredients such as water, milk, honey, turmeric water, lime water, and fruits with mixed nuts. Then the idol is decorated on a grandeur manner and is processed in the temple followed by mahaaarthi (holy lamp light offering) and then the devotees are feasted by prashadam (food offerings such as rice, pulses and milk drinks).

On the last day of the festival, the idols made of organic clay and which at times reach a height of 60 feet, are submerged in the ocean as it signifies that the Lord came to your adobe and stayed for 10 days and accepted your prayers and offering. And submerging the idol in the cool ocean waves is a sign of bidding him goodbye and welcoming him the next year.

Here in Seychelles, we don’t submerge the idol as we use a solid material statue which we take it to the sea, submerge and retrieve it back. Then the same idol is decorated grandly and is set on a grandeur chariot fully decorated with flower garlands and lighting accompanied by traditional music playing with a remarkable outer procession around the temple which attracts a crowd of 500 guests, devotees and spectators. And a delicious meal offering is distributed to all who come to attend the festival despite of one’s religion or nationality, as we believe all humans are one.

We welcome you all to receive the blessing of Lord Vinayagar.

Contributed