Sambalpur, Odisha: A 26-foot Ganesh idol crafted entirely from apples is currently being displayed at the Natraj Club building here and is attracting significant attention. This idol is being prepared for the upcoming 10-day Ganesh festival, which begins with Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayagar Chaturthi, celebrates the birthday of the Hindu deity Ganesh. The makers said that they have been crafting this unique Ganesh idol for over two months now. This is a golden jubilee year for them, and so they wanted to do something new to commemorate the occasion.
The festival typically features the installation of Ganesh idols, or murtis, both privately in homes and publicly in elaborate pandals. This year, the festival starts on Wednesday, August 27th. Notably, Freedom Fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak played a crucial role in popularising and transforming Ganesh Chaturthi into a large public celebration in 1893. He aimed to unite Hindu society and foster nationalist sentiments against British rule.
While the worship of Ganesh has ancient roots, Tilak’s initiative made the festival a communal event that inspired the Indian freedom movement. Although it is predominantly celebrated in Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi has gained popularity in various parts of India and is observed with immense fervour and devotion.
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IANS
