Ganesh Puja

These last few days have been Ganesh Puja (Worship of Ganesh). Many of the temples have been decked out for the occasion. The temple out side my window as been strung with bright lights, loud worship music blares from speakers most hours of the day and cows and calves wander around accepting food from temple goers.

Temple out side my window, Delanipur

Trucks complete with flashing lights, decorations and massive speakers strapped to the front roam around town. Large crowds dance in the streets in front of the trucks. In the back of each truck is a large statue of Ganesh (Depicted as a pink elephant) sitting amongst piles of sweets and flowers. Priests sit on the tailgates handing out prasad (food and sweets that have been blessed by the Ganesh). At one time I saw 8 of these trucks slowly make their way up the road in a row each stopping at the temple and each playing different music.

Dancers in front of a truck, blaring worship music and transporting Ganesh.

Video of Dancers in front of a Ganesh puja truck.

A little story,

So I finished dinner early and as I was walking home I decided to take the rout that would take me by the Ganesh Puja (Festival were Ganesh is worshiped) that was going on. As I was getting closer someone recognized me and told me to join him. I started asking questions about Ganesh Puja so he said, "Chalo (come lets go)". We walked around the side of a tent that had been set up in the middle of the road which housed a stage. This was the Cultural Event portion of the 4 day Puja or so said the glittery banner. This night was a dance competition complete with strobe light, and groups of young men doing choreographed dance moves to the latest Bollywood hits. From the other side of the crowd a bunch of young guys who I had talked to before were motioning me to sit on the wall with them. I didn't really want to make a huge scene of the only white guy climbing onto a wall in full view of everyone, (and a fantastic view of the stage). But they insisted and so in the end I obliged. In the process of climbing up I'm sure all eyes were on me, but I got a sense that my presence was accepted if not appreciated. But as soon as the next group was on stage everyones undivided attention was off me and onto the dancers again. I stayed for about an hour and left as they were planning (I think) to get me on stage. As I was leaving I passed the temple that has been erected to house the large Ganesh statue.