You have a wedding in the family or a new business venture is in the wings? Want to make a wish for a job or a prosperous crop this season, you can write to Lord Ganesha at the Ranthambor temple in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan.
Thousands of devotees write to him every year seeking blessings for weddings, match-making, good crops, business, a sweet home, a new vehicle and what not. The Lord is so popular among his devotees that it’s not possible to count the number of fan mail he receives. That’s why he is also called Chitthi wale Ganeshji (Ganesh who gets letters).
One of the most revered temple in Rajasthan, built in the 8th century AD Ranthambor temple has an idol of trinetra (three eyed) Ganapati. Situated on the western side of the Ranthambor fort, at a height of 250 metres above the forest valleys, the temple is thronged by thousands of devotees all through the year but Ganesh Chaturthi and Wednesdays are considered most sacred for a visit.
The first wedding invitation is sent to Lord Ganesh with a request to visit with Riddhi-Siddhi (his better halves) and Shubh-Labh (sons) to ensure hassle free solemnisation of the wedding. The Lord is also duly thanked after the wedding by offering food to five Brahmins or girls.
500 kg of letters
According to a rough estimate, the Lord receives about 500 kilos of mail every year, mostly wedding invitations according to Sanjay Dadhich, the trustee of the temple.
The postman has to carry huge sack to deliver letters sent to Lord Ganesh most of the time.
Ganesh receives mails from all parts of the country. Also from overseas. Caste, creed or religion — there is no bar in the Lord’s durbar.
Anyone can write to Him. For those, who have not printed a card yet, blank cards are available at an outside shop, especially addressed to “Shri Shri 1008 Ganeshji Maharaj”, Dadhich told Deccan Herald.
His holy presence is wanted by farmers before sowing. Others seek blessings on the birth of babies, before launching a new business, appearing in exams or interviews. It is considered sacred to visit the temple with a new vehicle.
DIVINE GUEST
Harry Potter at Ganesha festival
Mumbai, pti: Mumbai will include Harry Potter in this year’s Ganesha festival, which will start on Saturday.
“Harry Potter has a massive fan following in Mumbai. We also wanted to deliver some social message to our youth. So we decided to use Harry Potter as our mascot,” said Hemant Dixit, president of South Mum-bai’s Sarvojanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.
“We have depicted a scene where Potter comes to Mumbai. But after arriving here, he finds people wearing western outfits and eating the same food as in the US,” Dixit said. “Then Potter wonders why India has lost its distinct cultural identity,” he added. According to Dixit, the theme will try to tell children not to ape the West in everything and guard India’s culture against erosion.
Last year, the Ganeshotsav Mandal showed Ganesha riding on King Kong’s shoulder as a children’s theme. The mandal had also shown a baby Hanuman.
