PATNA: Patnaites welcomed Vighnaharta, or the remover of obstacles, to their homes as well as temples, celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday with religious fervour, enthusiasm and dedication. The biggest attraction this year, however, was the Maharashtra Mandal puja, where Lord Ganesh was offered a Rs 30 lakh gold crown, embedded with diamonds.
Sanjay Bhosle, secretary of Maharashtra Mandal, which organises the largest Ganesh Puja of the city, said the gold crown has been made by Mumbai artists at a cost of around Rs 30 lakh, collected as offerings by devotees and members of their group, including bureaucrats, doctors, builders and traders.
On the day, a large number of devotees thronged the Maharashtra Mandal temple on Daroga Prasad Roy Path for witnessing the ritual of 'Mukut dharan' (crowning the Lord), amid chants of mantras by priests who have come down to Patna from Mumbai, along with offering players.
Another first this year for the Maharashtra Mandal, which has been holding Ganesh Puja here for the last five decades, was the theme of Chandrayan 3. The successful launching of the lunar mission by ISRO scientists was displayed in the background with a thermocol model of Launch Vehicle Mark III India. The temple premise was decorated with 11 varieties of flowers brought from Kolkata.
Bhosle said the special prasad (edible offering), Modak, which is considered favourite of the Lord, was prepared by the members of 125 Maharashtrian families residing in Patna. An attractive religious procession with performances by artistes from Mumbai will be taken out on September 25, he added.
Apart from the Maharashtra Mandal, Mahaveer temple near Patna Junction held a special puja, led by its priest Gajanan Joshi, as Ganpati Avtaran.
He said as per Hindu belief, people seek Lord Ganesh’s blessings before starting any auspicious work. “Among the Hindu gods, He is the one who is worshipped first before commencing any religious ritual. Sincere prayers to Lord Ganesh helps devotees to develop concentration and respect for parents, besides it also takes away negativity that can come as obstructions in life," said Joshi.
Besides, the Siddhivinayak temple situated on Polson Road in Digha attracted a large number of devotees. Its trustee-cum-priest Vinod Giri said continuing with their practice introduced in 2015, this year too, the temple management presented study materials, copies, pencils and pens to over hundred poor children on the occasion.
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