NELSPRUIT – Hindus in the Lowveld will celebrate the sacred festival Ganesh Chathurthi next week.
Lord Ganesh is a popular deity worshipped by all Hindus and is represented by a figure with the head of an elephant and a human body. He is regarded as the Son of Lord Siva, the God of Hindu Trinity.
He is the God of knowledge, remover of obstacles and hardships. He is invoked at the commencement of all functions and ceremonies by Hindus where he bestows upon his devotees worldly and spiritual success.
Ganesh prayer is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm by all members of family and in particular by children.
There will be numerous music performances by leading artists and bhajans (groups singing songs) for nine days. After the ninth-day prayer, the clay idol of Lord Ganesh is taken in procession accompanied by large crowds of devotees and musical instruments and immersed in a nearby river, stream or sea. All creatures are equal in the realm of God’s creations. The physical form of Lord Ganesh signifies that animals and humans are equal and is a symbol of the inconceivable nature of God and unique feature behind names and forms attributed to God.
The importance and significance of this Chathurthi is that devotees take a resolution within themselves to pursue the path of spirituality and to seek the blessings of the highest reality.
Nelspruit Siva Vishnu Temples will worship Lord Ganesh at 18:00 on Monday September 9 in the Temple, Valencia Park and welcomes all interested persons to join the prayer service. Enquiries: Priest Shrinivasan on 082-854-4632.
