Ganeshas from Lagos to Pimpri

We asked rediff readers to write in with their special photographs of Lord Ganesh. Ashish Kulkarni offers his photograph.

Akhil and Nikhil Mathur live in the US and bought a brand new home in March.

They say: "We built our own puja room from scratch. Got all the tools required and made a marble-stepped puja room. We noticed that in the US all we have is wood platforms... so we had to be creative.

"On August 21st 2009, my brother who lives in New Jersey, USA, bought a Ganesh and travelled all the way to Richmond, Virginia (about 300 miles). We decorated the puja room with lights, fruits, Laddus and all the puja items required. We did puja every day. The Ganpati aarti played and sung by family members.
 
"Not being back home in India -- and with all the restrictions we have here in US -- we tried our best not to forget our rituals and enjoy the beautiful festival of Ganesh."
 

Darshan Naik has written in from Australia.

He says: "For the first time in history, Ganesh was worshipped as part of a public festival in Footscray, Victoria, Australia. This was arranged by one of the Indian associations in Melbourne. We were missing the Ganesh Festival of India and hence we went for this festival and had a nice time. Our Ganesha was around four or five feet in height and was made by one of the Indian artistes in Melbourne. It was a fantastic effort. I believe, it was a great effort by Indian association and deserves appreciation."
 

Rajesh Alva had a special Ganesha at his home in Goregaon East.

He says: "Ganesha is seated wearing a crown and jewellery on an ornate throne. Mooshak, the mouse, which carries Ganesha, is shown at the base of the throne. Ganesha holds his favorite sweet, a Modak in his left lower hand. He holds his broken tusk, with which he inscribed the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, narrated by the sage Ved Vyasa, in another hand. This Ganesha weighs 1,500 gm and the dimensions of the idol is 12 inches by six inches by six inches."

Dharmesh Makwana has this to say: "My wife Bhavi Mistry and her family enjoy bringing Ganapati to their home in Girgaum, Mumbai, India for the last six years. Bhavi's mother Jayshreeben and her aunt Aarti Ben work really hard, every year, to make this Ganeshotsav full of joy for all the family members.

"Bhavi has been living in USA from last three years and she misses the Ganapati festival she used to enjoy back home."  

Here is a pic of Ganesha all the way from Germany.

Say Manish and Neeru: "We are a group of 10 or 12 Indians residing in Heilbronn Germany. We celebrated Ganpati last weekend. Our Ganpati is small in size but mighty and cute."

Sanjyot took a picture of the mighty Lalbaug Raja of Mumbai with his cell while taking darshan. Have a look

This Ganesha is made from chalk by Gourav Chourasia. And it is located in Bern, Switzerland.

Manoj Awatramani of Mulund, Mumbai, sends a pic. He says: "The theme was green Durva Ganesh."

Here is a photograph of the Ganapati that graced the Bhatia's home at Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA. They say: "This is our fourth year celebrating Ganeshotsav here in the USA."

A photograph of Ganesha from Bangalore from reader Raghavendra H. He says: "We have been celebrating Ganesha festival since several years. Jai Ganesha!"

Satish Mhamunkar brought Ganesha home. He lives in Pimpri, Pune. Here is his photograph.

The Lord Ganesha from Lagos, Nigeria. Courtesy Srinivasa G.

Swarnaa and Venkatraman say: "We have performed Vinayaga Chaturthi puja at our home in Slough, Berkshire, UK.

"Our Vinayagar is made of wheat flour, rice flour, water, lots of love, affection and devotion.

"This is the third Vinayaga Chaturthi festival we are celebrating at our home in Slough. May Lord Ganesha bless one and all with eternal peace, happiness and prosperity."

Uma Raghuraman from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, offers a pic of their homemade Vinayagar, made out of clay and eco-friendly colors. "My husband and I made our Vinayagar with great devotion and love and it really came out well."
 

Vijendra Siddhi has this to say: "We celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi here, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, with great devotion and respect. We had annadanam for more than 50 people and the puja was done very well by our priest Jnana Murthyl. I felt blessed to be able to attend the puja."

Vishal is from Nagpur, Maharashtra but lives in Noida, outside Delhi and he celebrates Ganesh Puja every year. Here is the Ganeshji from his home.