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Re: REQUEST : Ganesha festival, request for info
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Subject: Re: REQUEST : Ganesha festival, request for info
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From: "Jaldhar H. Vyas" <jaldhar@braincells.com>
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Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 23:57:30 GMT
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Apparently-To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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Organization: Consolidated Braincells Inc.
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References: <ghenDwECGr.6H2@netcom.com>
Virginia Spatz <vspatz@access.digex.net> wrote in article
<ghenDwECGr.6H2@netcom.com>...
> Hello,
>
> I am brand-new to this newsgroup and very new to the study of Hinduism.
I
> have read that a festival of Ganesha begins on the fourth day after the
> August new moon -- that would be Sunday, August 18 ??
>
> I am very interested to learn more about this festival and how it
> is celebrated, especially in the United States.
>
Ganesh Chaturthi is selebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of the
month of Bhadrapada. Which would be September 16th. Ganesh Bhagawan is
vorshipped by all Hindus as Vigneshwara or the Remover of Obstacles but He
is most popular in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra and adjoining
areas which were part of of the Maratha empire. There the festival lasts
an additional 10 days until Ananta Chaturdashi or September 26th. People
make a murti or statue of Ganesh Bhagawan out of clay either for their own
use or as part of a community group. After worship is over the murti is
returned to the waters from which it came.
Hindus in America essentially follow these same customs. (There is a
tendency amongst the lazy to shift everything to the nearest weekend
instead of the appointed day.) Ganesh Bhagawan is the main Deity at the
Hindu Temple in Flushing, NY so the festival is celebrated with much pomp
there.
> Also, are honest seekers of truth and those interested in
> different forms of worship welcome at festivals or regular temple
worship?
Go to a temple and ask them if they'll have you. Personally I find the
presence of foreigners annoying and distracting but the modern-type Hindus
seem to be interested in that sort of thing.
> I understand that home worship is the most common among Hindus but I am
> unclear about the role of corporate (congregation?) worship in Hinduism
> -- how common is it?.
>
Home worship is required, temple worship is not but it's very common. It
should be noted that the main form of temple worship, having the darshan
(viewing) of the deities is not congegational. The worshipper might be
with a group of people but they are still praying by themselves at their
own pace.
--
Jaldhar H. Vyas [jaldhar@braincells.com] o- beable .-_|\
Consolidated Braincells Inc. / \
http://www.braincells.com/jaldhar/ Perth Amboy-> *.--._/
"Witty quote" - Dead Guy finger me for PGP key v McQ!
