Rationalists and atheists may not like this but the truth is that Lord Vinayaka (also known as Ganapathi or Vigneshwara) is an international figure who is respected and adored by believers of Sanatana Dharma spread across the world. Vinayaka Chathurthi is celebrated across India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, USA, Britain and many other countries. Devotees cutting across caste, class and religion pay obeisance to the God (who has the head of an elephant) to invoke his blessings.
While Sanatana believers organize Ganesh Festivals across Maharashtra as a mark of unity and nationalism, the rest of the country follows suit with “Sarvajanik Ganesholsav”, immortalized by Bal Gaangadhar Tilak, the greatest freedom fighter India has seen. The Dravidians led by Ramasami Naicker had insulted Vinayaka by garlanding his idols across Tamil Nadu with footwears.
Sri Lanka, which has 75 per cent Sinhala population and less than nine percent Tamil population too comes alive with Vinayaka Chathrthi celebrations. The only difference is that many places in the island nation celebrate Ganesh Chathurthi on 6th and 7th September and immerse the colourful idols in lakes, rivers or in the mighty Indian Ocean.
Employees, staff and management of ten tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya situated in central Sri Lanka had its Ganesha festivals on 6th and 7th of September which had a grand finale on Saturday. The devotees that included Sinhalaese, Indian Tamils led by the monks of Ramakrishna Mutt and Budhist monasteries took the ten idols of Vinayaka as a procession to Commercial Lake at Kotagalla that is home to the biggest tea plantation.
“As everywhere, Ganesha is considered as the remover of all obstacles. Any new ventures, whether it be initiation to a child's education, a business enterprises and all auspicious functions commence with Vinayaka Puja,” said Ramaswamy Wijayabalan, a leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad International in the island nation. The Government of Sri Lanka had deputed the secretary, department of Hindu Culture to coordinate the event that saw thousands of people from the district assembling for the two-day event filled with poojas, devotional songs and cultural events to propitiate Ganesha.
Wijayabalan said Ganesha was no stranger in Sri Lanka as the Budhists too worship the remover of all obstacles in their temples. Pandit Bhaskara Sharma led the poojas and distributed prasadam to all those who assembled to pay their obeisance to the God of Knowledge.
The bhajan “Ganapati Bappa Morrya, Mangal Moorthy Morrya, Akhil Baras Thu Jaldi Aaa” reverberated across the plantations and during the procession to the Lake for the Holy Immersion.
Ganesholsav in Sri Lanka is not just a flash in the pan as the Elephant headed God is worshipped by the locals in many countries in Asia, said Ravi Kumar, Indian representative of SEWA based in Sydney.
“In Indonesia, they have Ganesha University of Education, the motto of which is Dharmaning Sajjana, Umerdhyaken Widyaguna (the duty of an educated person is to develop knowledge and character)”, Ravi Kumar told The Pioneer. He also pointed out that Indonesia had currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination imposed with the picture of Lord Ganesha.
Next time, you see ladoos and modakams, the favorite delicacies of Lord Vinayaka, please bear in mind that he is a global God. Are you reading this, dear Owaisi?
