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Page 1 of 3 Ganesha is the ever-present deity of India. On wedding invitations, at street shrines, in carved doorways and in every temple, he is represented in many carvings sculptures and paintings.
On the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi comes to India. Months ahead, with great excitement ana enthusiasm, hundreds ofusands of clay idols of Ganesha are made in Bombay, Pune and Pen, a village full of clay sculptors, near Bombay. Lorryloads of idols of every size, in every pose and colour, are brought to Mumbai and other towns. These are worshipped at community or family festivals which last between one to ten days according to each group’s tradition.
Till the last century, Ganesh Chaturthi, like many other Indian festivals, was largely a family celebration. It was the renowned patriot Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who recognised and used its appeal amongst India's vast population to create a public festival and thereby propagate the struggle for independence. Freedom Is My Birthright', was his electric call and in order to reach out to to India’s struggling millons, he innovated community worship where popular plays, songs and and discourses on freedom were staged.
Started in 1892 by this great visionary, the communiy Ganesha festival completed a centenary in 1992. A grand event was organized in Pune during which the foremost artists of lndia performed. Bullock cart races, car displays, wrestling, trekking, swimming galas and costume extravaganzas were organized on a mammoth scale by a committee of eminent citizens. This tourist and media event with everyone participating in it irrespective of religious belief, has now become an annual celebration of Pune city. [Opposite page] In the western state ofMaharashtra, Ganesha Chaturthi is a magnificent event. Numerous community celebrations centre around huge idols which are taken for ceremonial immersion after 10 days of music, dance, theatre, feasts and fun.
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