Red carpet rolled out for Lord Ganesha

Red carpet rolled out for Lord Ganesha
Newindpress.com

HUBLI: The red carpet is out, the pandals ready, the sweets made –– all is set to welcome the elephant headed God, Ganesha. He will be in our midst in various avatars from Wednesday for 11 days.

Ganesha festival is observed in high spirit across the twin cities and people from all across the district throng here to have a darshan of Lord Ganesha seated in those attractive, exotic and huge pandals.

Good rainfall leading to brisk agricultural activities in the region has renewed the spirits of the people this year ensuring that the Ganesha festival will be as grand as ever.

Bursting crackers, splashing gulal and shouts of ‘Ganapati bappa moreya’ renting the air welcome Ganesha. Unlike any other festival, people ‘handle’ Ganesha with care because of the belief that if the idols are damaged it will bring a year of bad luck.

Themes drawn from mythological, social and historical events are incorporated in all most all pandals. People longing for a pilgrimage to Tirupati for a darshan of Lord Venktesha can come to Sheelavntar oni as a replica of the Tirupati temple (costing Rs 3.5 lakh) has been set up there to house Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha is seen donning various roles for this 11–day festival. Events from Ramayana, Satya Harischadra, war between Arjun (Madhyam Pandava) and his son Babruvahan, a scene of Siddalingeshwar blessing the people, a theme on chopping the head of deity Yellamma by her son Parashuram, a replica of Shivaji Maharaj’s fort, Lord Krishna holding Govardhan giri on his finger (at Sarafgatti), Satya Harischadra (at Bani oni), appearance of deity Laxmidevi (at Simpi galli), – are some of the main attractions of this year’s Ganesha festival.

A huge colourful pandal (cost Rs 2 lakh) has been set up on station road near Chandrakala Talkies in the shape of a 40 ft height chariot made of bamboos.

About 560 organisations are installing idols of Lord Ganesha at different places in city in attractive pandals. No doubt these pandals will attract people from other regions but the people are also praying to the Lord that these 11 days of celebration will pass off peacefully without any untoward incidents.