Price no bar for festive celebrations

In tune with the Indian spirit of celebrating numerous festivals that dot the Hindu calendar with gusto throughout the year, people are flocking the market, despite the pinch in their pockets, for purchase of pooja articles, fruits and vegetables.

The Ganesha and Gowri festival brings to one’s mind huge Ganesha idols in various postures and attires, small yet beautifully decked Gowri idols that are a sheer delight among the girls and women, a platter full of delicacies, flowers and seasonal fruits that are synonymous with the festivals, children in their new clothes, young girls bejewelled and clad in traditional clothing, rituals and songs that emanate from households in invoking the Lord.

The original and traditional name of Gowri festival is Swarna Gowri Vrata. Gowri is the other name of Parvathi, Lord Shiva’s wife. It is believed among the Hindus that Parvathi, who goes to her maternal place, is brought back by her son Lord Ganesha. Thus, on the day of Gowri festival, girl children receive gifts from her maternal place.

Lord Ganesha was created out Parvathi’s grime and hence even to this day he is made of clay and later immersed in water. It is freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak who was responsible for transforming the Ganesha festival into a public one.

A practice which is being continued even to this day with much rigour and pomp. With this the festival rose to national importance. Lord Ganesha is a popular festival that transcends caste and creed,” said Dasharathi, an elderly person.