“Nitaantikaanta Dantakaanti Mantakaanta Kaatmajam
Achintya Rupa Mantaheena Mantaraaya Krintanam
Hrudantarey Nirantaram Vasantameva Yoginam
Tameka Danta Meva Tam Vichintayaami Santatam”
Chauthi Fervor:
The three day long Chauthi festival began on September 17, 2015 at the Lord Shiva Temple, Muscat. Shree Ganesh Festival Committee organized the entire festival upholding traditions and the spirit of fervor and piety amidst all festivities.
Fresh Floral Decoration:
Arrangements from the entrance of the hall to the Mandap depicted a total traditional feel through which one would not miss the celebrations back home. Banana stems, mango leaves, sugarcane stems, tender coconuts, bunches of fresh dates and fresh fruit decorations, welcomed the devotees. Beautiful varieties of flowers like shevanthige, mallige, marigold, roses, hibiscus, were flown in from Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The idol of Lord Ganesha was aesthetically decorated with fresh flowers of beautiful hues and arranged in a beautiful pattern. The cornices and the ceiling were beautifully decorated with perfectly matched hues of flowers. The glittering golden crown on Lord Ganesha and the silver umbrella were a part of the sparkling supplements.
A bright, beautiful Rangoli depicting Lord Ganesha, replete with all the symbolic representation and ornate jewellery and a fresh floral border, was created by Bijal Ved and Paru Negandhi.
Traditions kept alive…….
The rituals starting from Prathisthapana was initialized by the main archaka, Shri Shankar Narayana Adiga and assisted by Guru Pejathaya and a team of archakas, amidst the chanting of mantras and shlokas. This was followed by Panchamritha Abhisheka and Gana Homa.
Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda Group chanted the Ganapathi Sahasranama. A large number of devotees participated in the Shatakai Seva and Laddoo Seva, and sought the blessings of the Lord. Ranga Pooja and Pushparchana, a shower of fresh flower petals, were offered to Lord Ganesha.
Devotional Music Strains:
Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda Group comprising of Koni Prakash Naik, Karunakar Rao, Ashok Kotian, Kishore Kotemane, Dr C K Anchan, Raju Sanil, Nisha Rao, Prema Umesh Karkera, Pushpa Kotian, Divya Kotian, Vanishree Nagesh Shetty and Jaya Ramesh presented beautiful and popular bhajans.
The hall reverberated with Vedic chants by Shri Vaidyanathan Group and A V Manohar. Musical offerings by various groups, namely R Meenakshi and group, Sai Devotees, Hare Krishna Group, Mata Amritanandamayi Bhajan Group, Divine Spark, Gopa Kuteera, Disciples of Chitra Ravi, Chinmaya Bala Vihar Group, Thyagaraja Samithi, Maitri Vrinda, Oneness Group, Art of Living group, GSB Group, Shri Kanthibhai Group, Aaradhana Group, Jayashree and disciples, Veena Srinivas, Jyoti Balaji Lata Murali, Jayashree, Swarnalatha Hebbar, Mangala Sundararajan and disciples, resonated in the air. Shreya Bangera presented “Ganesha Vandana”. Premila Remesh and her disciples presented “Ganesh Vandana – a classical dance presentation”. The disciples of Padmini Krishnamurthi presented devotional dance.
Om Shree Ganesha Bala Vrinda group, comprising of children of some of the members of the Festival Committee and other children from the Mangalorean community, well trained under the guidance of Koni Prakash Naik, Karunakar Rao and Ashok Kotian, presented beautiful Bhajans melodiously. They were dressed in the traditional style and sang melodiously in unison.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Shiva Temple hall on all the three days and sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Amidst the repeated chorus chanting of Ganapati Bappa Morya, the ritual of immersion was performed.
Prasada was served on all the three days after the Maha Puja. Traditional Mangalorean cuisine was served on plaintain leaves on the last day.
The ceremonial couple for the 30th year of Ganesh Chaturthi was Mangaldas Kamath and Jayshree Mangaldas Kamath.
His Excellency Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India along with his wife partook in the pooja. Shri and Smt Kanaksey Gokaldas Khimji, Shri Anil Khimji, Shri Kiran Asher, Shri Ashwin Nensey and family, Shri and Smt Sudhir Bhai, Shri and Smt Bharat Asher, Shri and Smt Raju Ved, from the merchant community, also partook in the puja.
Shree Ganesh Festival Committee comprises of the Convenor – Ramesh Shettigar, Koni Prakash Naik, Ramanand Kunder, S K Poojary, Karunakar Rao Kadri, Ashok Kotian, Umesh Karkera, Shashidhar Shetty, Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoli, Ravi Kanchan, Mangaldas Kamath, Gurudas Pejathaya, Shreenivas Shriyan, Dr C K Anchan and Kashinath Anchan.
The committee members, along with the very dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers, contributed to the proceedings on all the three days with immense devotion and sought to keep the festivities and traditions.
Three day program was really superb with positive energy filling the atmosphere. Devotees were overjoyed to experience the divine presence throughout the duration of the three day festival. Devotional songs,dances,Vedic chants and enthusiasm of the devotees,volunteers and the committe ..all contributed to create positiveness all over.
Mrs.Jaya Shettigar’s report has helped us to recall they same experience once again! Thanks Mrs Shettigar.
Nagesh’s photos are superb too.
A big thanks to mangalorean.com for a beautiful report in a flash!!!!
Ganpati Bappa Morya Pudcha Varshi Lowkar Ya….Difficult to wait for one full year…But Ganesha is there all the time with us…Omnipotent ….Omnipresent….Yes indeed 3 days of devotion, prayers, bhajans, dances, keertanas, archanans…amidst thousands of devotees was so energising. I am sure all the devotees had received the choicest blessings of Lord Ganesha.
Thank you to all those volunteers for the eye catching decoration. Thank you to Mrs. Jaya Ramesh Shettigar for the wonderful portrayal of festivity. As usual, Mangalorean.Com a big thank you too.
Hearty congratulations to Shree Ganesh Festival Committee, for organising another beautiful Ganesh Utsava for the residents in the Sultanate.
Special thanks to Mrs. Jaya Ramesh Shettigar and Mangalorean.com for the coverage and pictures.