Daily photos 1st year
http://www.javeri.net
Anant Chaturdashi
This is an idol of Lord Ganesha on an elephant (not real!).
Unlike last year could shoot only for 45 minutes as had to go for a movie! Shot in Leica & Nikon D300 (17-55 mm).
Started by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak as an occasion to bring the masses together irrespective of class, against the British rulers, Ganeshotsav is the celebration of the Hindu elephant deity Lord Ganesha's visit to the homes of devotees.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the first day of the 10- or 11-day festival where idols of the deity in various shapes, sizes and colours (often with news-based themes) are brought to the homes or colonies of devotees. On the final day (Anant Chaturdashi), the idols are carried by hand, balancing them on the head, pulled in hand carts or trucks, to be immersed in the nearest sea, river or lake.
The process of taking the idols for immersion is marked with much fanfare -- loud music, resonating beats and dancing devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesha only to welcome him again the next year with equal excitement.
http://www.javeri.net
Last year (2007) pictures http://hershy.smugmug.com/gallery/3548966_uwjvK
219352dedmanshootn
on September 21, 2008ditto andrea
Andrea Kaus (ChaosGraphics)
on September 20, 2008Fantastic shot -- I love the vertical image rising over horizontal movement.
The Curious Camel aka gail
on September 20, 2008wonderful colors.
John (300m)
on September 20, 2008very nice Hershy. Love the colors.
Art Hill
on September 20, 2008Good one. It looks huge.
Bill Pador
on September 20, 2008Fantastic colors here Hershy, so much going on it looks like a wonderful festival. Bet the food was great !, nicely done
54772APHOTO4YOU
on September 20, 2008u captured colours very well...nice
Hillary Yasmer Shemin
on September 20, 2008Great crowd/street shot! These photos and the explanations of them are wonderful...Thank you for sharing all of this with us..it is as though we are there!!!
irishmurr
on September 20, 2008Very interesting tradition -- and fascinating shot!
vispy
on September 20, 2008While I like the photograph and its portrayal, I do not agree that a tradional more should be destroyed in the name of creativity. Ekdanta(Ganesh the one tusked elephant head god)tradionally has always had a mouse as his carrier, and there is lot of mythological beliefs built around that. And to now have him ride an elephant seems like a total mix up of the tradional festival.