Ganesha Festival - Part I

In this area of the country, the most worshiped god is Ganesha, the Elephant God.  For this reason, Pune is a great place to be during the 10-day Ganesh Celebration.  On the first evening, many Puneites brought a new Ganesh statue into their home OR whole neighborhoods got together, built an outside temporary temple in the street and shared a new large Ganesh Statue.  The statues they purchase during this time frame are used only for this festival.  The large neighborhood groups do a sort of parade to bring their statue to their temporary temple.  During this procession, the Ganesha Statue is on some kind of vehicle or float...and in some cases the front of the statue is covered.  The vehicle either has loud speakers or is proceeded by a band.  We were invited by one of the Fitness Center guys to his neighborhood to view some of the events.  Here are photos from the first evening.

These boys were part of a group that was doing a routine with swords & shields

Symbols

Rolling Symbol

The drums were fun to watch, especially to see how "in-to" it they got.

I loved seeing that girls were participating...and also, getting "in-to" it.

This was the Ganesha Float behind this particular group

Parade spectators

Ladies making a sand Rangoli

Domnic (on the drum) jumps into join the band of  this other smaller Ganesha procession.

This Ganesha's face will remain hidden until it reaches it's destination

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A visit to Siddesh's home. The generousity of some Indians is amazing.  When Siddesh's family heard that we were coming to their area, they were quick to invite us in for soda and sweets.  Siddesh lives in this 8x12 foot corrugates steel home with his mother and father.  There is one room and then a small area in the back for the kitchen and bath.


I'm holding the neighbors daughter

Siddesh, Father, Mother, & Sister.  His sister is married to a police officer & was just there for the Ganesh celebration.

Benjamin & girl sitting on the familie's twin bed.

A view of his street.

Siddesh has grown up in this area his whole life.  My understanding is that his family was living in a building close by that was torn down recently.  These homes were built to house them temporarily (3 years) until a new building is built.