From the archive record
Vendor paints Ganesha idols with festive colours in Mayur Vihar for the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, 2019. Ganesh Chaturthi / Ganesh Puja is majorly a national festival, which is marked with the installation of Ganesh clay idols both publicly and privately. The festival celebrates Lord Vinayaka or Ganesh as the God of new beginnings and remover of hurdles. Lord Ganesh is worshipped for prosperity and knowledge. A statue of the Elephant God is installed on a pedestal either at home or in a public place with a pranprathishtha puja. Washing of the statue; puja with the chanting of shlokas and offerings of flowers and sweets; and aarti, i.e. circumlocution of the idol with a plate filled with a lit earthen/metal lamp, kumkum and flowers, is done. Prayer meetings are also conducted