Jamshedpur: With deep reverence and boundless festive joy, the eagerly anticipated ten-day festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has commenced in a ritualistic manner, bringing together both Marathi and non-Marathi communities in the Steel City. The first day of the festival marked the sthapana (installation) of the grand deity.
Shree Bala Ganapati Vilas, the organizing committee behind Ganesh Puja, has left no stone unturned in making elaborate arrangements for this grand celebration. An official explained that the priest performed a sacred ritual believed to infuse life into the idol. This was followed by the traditional puja ceremony. Devotees took part in a ritualistic bath, and the priest donned a silken lower garment, typically in red, with a shawl adorning his shoulders. The puja commenced at the auspicious time as per the calculations based on the ritual calendar. Later in the evening the Ganesh Puja Mela was inaugurated in Kadma.
The ceremony initiated with the placement of the idol, often crafted from terracotta, in a sacred area symbolizing a throne. Worshipers then sipped holy water, engaged in pranayama (breathing exercises), and bowed before Lord Ganesh and other deities. This was followed by the singing of Ganpati aarti and the atharvashirsha, accompanied by the sounds of cymbals, bells, and rhythmic clapping. The final ritual of the day involved offering ‘modak’ or prasad (sacred food) to the deity, along with flowers, after which the prasad was distributed among the devotees.
The Ganesh Puja in Jamshedpur holds a special place as one of the oldest and most revered pujas in the state. Each year, a large number of devotees flock to the venue to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. Priests from Andhra Pradesh are conducting the religious ceremonies this year. The organizing committee president also mentioned that various entertainment and food stalls would be set up for the visitors. A dedicated team of volunteers has been trained to assist and guide devotees at strategic locations during the festivities.
To ensure the smooth operation of the fair, district police have implemented tight security measures, deploying an adequate number of security personnel and plainclothes officers to monitor the event.
Notably, the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the Kadma grounds attract a daily footfall of over 50,000 visitors. People from the city and its neighboring areas gather not only to worship Lord Ganesha but also to partake in the festivities with fervor.
Amidst chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya,’ devotees warmly welcomed Lord Ganesha on the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, marking the commencement of the Ganeshutsav festival. Lord Ganesha, the beloved son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is revered as the God of new beginnings, the remover of obstacles, and the bestower of wisdom and intelligence.