Lord Ganapathi festival celebrations begin
{{date|September 17, 2007}}
[[Image:Ganapathi1.jpg|right|thumb|Ganapathi deity]]
[[Image:Ganapathi3.jpg|left|thumb|Ganapathi deity]]
This September 15, 2007, being the birthday of Lord [[w:Ganesha|Ganesha]], marks the important festival of [[w: Ganesh Chaturthi|Ganesh Chaturthi]] for [[w:Hindus|Hindus]] in India and world wide. 

Lord Ganesha occupies a special god status in [[w:Hindu|Hindu]] tradition, and is considered as the bestower of all auspiciousness and destroyer of all negativity. Typically these festive celebrations last from one to 11 days, concluding with a Nimajjan ceremony (immersing the deity in the waters of lake/pond/river/sea/ocean etc). These celebrations are splendidly carried out in India amidst strict security as thousands participate. However; several Indian Hindu communities spread across the globe from [[Australia]] to [[North America]] have celebrated with no less pomp. 

Notable ones were the celebration in the Scandinavian towns of Roskilde and Skovde, where due to the unavailability of [[w:Ganesh|Ganesh]] [[w:Maharaj|Maharaj]] statue (which are readily available in India), the organizers made a deity with black sticky clay soil collected from local farmlands with no added artificial colours. 

These celebrations in Scandinavia besides having the usual religious significance has an added flavor demonstrating the environmental awareness in [[w:nordic countries|nordic countries]]. Recently eco-friendly Ganesh immersions are being urged by various environmental activists in India as well.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Ganesh_immersions_get_eco-friendly/articleshow/2375389.cms
|title=	Ganesh immersions get eco-friendly
|pub= The Times Of India 
|author= Sunil Nair
|date=September 17, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.in-forum.com/News/articles/178419
|title=	F-M Hindus commemorate puja
|pub= The Forum News 
|author= Sherri Richards
|date=September 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070026303
|title=	An eco-friendly Ganesh in Hyderabad
|pub= ndtv.com
|author= T S Sudhir
|date=September 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402082.html 
|title= Giving Thanks to Ganesh|pub= Washington Post
|author= Ansley Roan
|date=September 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/300032/1/.html
|title=	Temple honours Ganesha with gold crown during birthday celebrations
|pub=Channel NewsAsia |  author= Chitra Balagumaran
|date=September 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorial/Ganesh_graces_Paris/articleshow/2370527.cms
|title=	Ganesh graces Paris
|pub= The Times Of India |  author= Charlotte Sunde
|date=September 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7381
|title=	Ceuta Hindus to Celebrate Ganesh Visarjan
|pub=Asian Tribune
|author= 
|date=September 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://origin.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_6891956
|title=	Hindus to celebrate, worship at festival of Ganesha Chaturthi
|pub=insidebayarea.com
|author= Arya Hebbar
|date=September 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/NEWS/709140401/1001
|title=	Hindus honor a revered deity 
|pub= Home News Tribune Online
|author= RAVI YANDE
|date=September 14, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.newkerala.com/oct.php?action=fullnews&id=1306
|title=	Ganesh idol immersed with great fanfare near Sydney 
|pub= NewKerala.com
|author= Neena Bhandari
|date=September 14, 2007}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:India]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]
[[Category:Religion]]
Ganapathi deity
Ganapathi deity
This September 15, 2007, being the birthday of Lord Ganesha, marks the important festival of Ganesh Chaturthi for Hindus in India and world wide. 

Lord Ganesha occupies a special god status in Hindu tradition, and is considered as the bestower of all auspiciousness and destroyer of all negativity. Typically these festive celebrations last from one to 11 days, concluding with a Nimajjan ceremony (immersing the deity in the waters of lake/pond/river/sea/ocean etc). These celebrations are splendidly carried out in India amidst strict security as thousands participate. However; several Indian Hindu communities spread across the globe from Australia to North America have celebrated with no less pomp. 

Notable ones were the celebration in the Scandinavian towns of Roskilde and Skovde, where due to the unavailability of Ganesh Maharaj statue (which are readily available in India), the organizers made a deity with black sticky clay soil collected from local farmlands with no added artificial colours. 

These celebrations in Scandinavia besides having the usual religious significance has an added flavor demonstrating the environmental awareness in nordic countries. Recently eco-friendly Ganesh immersions are being urged by various environmental activists in India as well.
Culture and entertainment India Asia Hinduism Religion