Ganesha Worship Knows No Bars at Festival Time

September 4, 2006

Om Namah Sivaya

www.hindustantimes.com

MUMBAI, INDIA, August 31, 2006: At Marine Lines, fruit seller Chand Sheikh, a 26-year-old Muslim, had been such a devout follower of Lord Ganesha since childhood that he was elected president of the local mandal and has already occupied that post for five years. A mandal is a temple set up temporarily for the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi, also called Ganeshotsav. These temporary temples can be elaborate affairs, and a great deal of planning and work go into their creation. In Bhandup, practicing Sikh Balbir Singh has brought a Deity statue home this year, and plans to celebrate with his family every Ganeshotsav. Across the city, Sikhs, Christians and numerous Muslims are heading Ganeshotsav mandals, singing artis, distributing prasad. Many are prompted by faith, others by hope or just plain neighborly interest. "I didn't even realize it was a Hindu festival till some years ago," smiles Sheikh. "The whole building celebrated and we just joined in." In fact, Sheikh was

so enthusiastic that he got voted president of the local Tarun Mitra Ganeshotsava Mandal when he was just 21 and has occupied that position for five years. "Last year, I was struggling to raise money for my five-year-old granddaughter Ankita's heart surgery," says Singh. "I believe Lord Ganesha helped me get together the money and helped save our girl. Now she's fine, and I feel so thankful." In nearby Azad Nagar, Ghatkopar, a Muslim-dominated area, 72-year-old Liaquat Ali has been the president of the local Jai Durgamata Seva Mandal for 28 years, ever since it was founded. "Muslims participate in all the festivities and even prepare the prasad (blessed food)," says mandal secretary R. K. Singh. "All communities live in harmony here."

Sivaya Namah

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