Mumbai: Ganesh Visarjan
With his elephant-head, Ganesha, is one of the more recognisable Hindu Gods, and is revered throughout India as the ‘Remover of Obstacles’ and the ‘God of Everyman’. He is also the patron of travellers, making him one of the more popular deities in Mumbai, a city which has welcomed migrants from all over South Asia, the Middle East, Iran and beyond. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates his birthday over ten days, culminating in the day of immersion (Visarjan in Marathi).
Two or three months before the festival, clay models of Ganesha are made by special artisans. The idols vary from two storeys in height (produced by local communities in rivalry with each other) to figures of less than an inch (from the simplest households). For the ten days of the festival he is worshipped by followers, before the images are taken out of their resting place and paraded through the streets towards a nearby body of water for immersion, symbolising Ganesha’s journey towards Mount Kailash - taking with him the misfortunes of man.
On this day, the streets of Mumbai swell with devotees, assembled for the God’s send off, and crowds cry out ‘Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya’, Marathi for ‘O father Ganesha, come again early next year’. Drummers, dancers and devotional singers accompany the richly-decorated floats carrying Ganesha down to the sea, with one of the largest immersion sites being at Chowpatty beach.
These photographs were taken on the days of Ganesh Visarjan on 22 September 2010 and 11 September 2011.
Read MoreTwo or three months before the festival, clay models of Ganesha are made by special artisans. The idols vary from two storeys in height (produced by local communities in rivalry with each other) to figures of less than an inch (from the simplest households). For the ten days of the festival he is worshipped by followers, before the images are taken out of their resting place and paraded through the streets towards a nearby body of water for immersion, symbolising Ganesha’s journey towards Mount Kailash - taking with him the misfortunes of man.
On this day, the streets of Mumbai swell with devotees, assembled for the God’s send off, and crowds cry out ‘Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya’, Marathi for ‘O father Ganesha, come again early next year’. Drummers, dancers and devotional singers accompany the richly-decorated floats carrying Ganesha down to the sea, with one of the largest immersion sites being at Chowpatty beach.
These photographs were taken on the days of Ganesh Visarjan on 22 September 2010 and 11 September 2011.
