Ganesh Utsav in Houston

Ganesha-in-1

By Runmee Barbara

HOUSTON: Lord Ganesha is the most beloved Hindu God and Indians are preparing for the Ganesh Utsav all around the world. In Houston Kalakriti Performing Arts Foundation (www.kalakritiusa..org/) in association with Shiv Shakti Temple (www.shivshaktimandir.org/) welcomes all Houstonians to celebrate Ganesh Utsav this year at Shiv Shakti Temple from September 4 through 11.

Ganesh Utsav is the celebration of the birth anniversary of the Elephant headed God, Lord Ganesha. Ganapati or Ganesha means the Lord of the multitudes. The unique body parts describe Ganesha’s character and qualities that humans should adopt for spiritual growth. Ganesh is also  a symbolic representation of a man of perfection.

It is a 11 days long Hindu festival which starts on the Chaturthi with statue installation in the home or temple and ends on Anant Chaturdashi with Ganesha Visarjan. Devotees of Lord Ganesha offer prayer, offerings (especially Modak), sing devotional songs, recite mantra, do Aarti and seek his blessings of wisdom and prosperity. It is celebrated separately by the families or group of people in the Pandals, temples or community. Ganesh Visarjan (means idol immersion into water) is a special and most important part of the puja. It is performed according to the Mahurat of the Ganesha Visarjan and is marked as the end of the ten-day long festival where devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesha.

God comes to this world in many forms and blesses us in different disguises. Celebrate God’s benevolence bestowed on mortals like us through Lord Ganesha. Shiv Sakti Temple will have week long festivities starting with Ganesh Stapana on Sep 4, Raas Garba 8pm-11pm Sep 9 & 10 and Ganesh Visarjan on Sep 11. Join us for an evening of festivities on Sep 11 starting at 5pm with procession and dancing on the streets of Hilcroft & Harwin like we do in India, cultural program will start from 6 pm based on life of Ganesha directed by Ms. Kusum Sharma of Kalakriti Performing Arts Foundation. The Utsav will end with Maha Aarti at 7:00 pm and Prasad at 7:30pm.

Ganesha’s belly indicate his delight for good food which means lots of Indian food, modaks or sweet dumplings along with snacks will be there to tickle your taste buds. Come and spread happiness as big as Ganesh’s appetite and enjoy these moments as sweet as his laddoos…Happy Shri Ganesh!!!.

For more information please contact Pandit Hardik Raval at 361-243-6539 or Kusum Sharma at 832-423-2039