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Showing posts from August, 2009

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The Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves , located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri, about 11 Km off the coast of the Gateway of India, Mumbai, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to these caves, excavated probably in the 6 th century CE, is awe-inspiring, and also thought-provoking. Over the years, I have visited the caves a number of times, and also attended a number of talks by experts in the fields of art, history and archaeology on the caves. Together, they help me understand these caves, their art, and the people they were created for, just a little bit better. Every new visit, every new talk, every new article I read about the caves, fleshes out the image of what the island and the caves would have been like, at their peak. I last wrote about the caves on this blog, in 2011, almost exactly 11 years ago. Since then, my understanding of the caves has, I would like to think, marginally improved. Hence this attempt to write a new and updated post, trying to bring to life, the caves of Elephan
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Some Ganeshas at Chembur

Having finished with the distant Ganesha pandals , we decided to head for a shorter trip closer home in Chembur. Two of the oldest and most popular Ganeshas in Chembur are those at R.K. Studios and the Duke’s Factory. Of course, there are other bigger Ganeshas too – the Chembur-cha Raja in Camp and the many others in the vicinity, and the extravagant Tilak Nagar Ganesha, but these usually have a long queue waiting for darshan, something for which I lack patience. We started with the aim of visiting just these two Ganeshas, but managed a couple more interesting ones on the way. Come, take a look…. We started with the Ganesha at the Duke’s factory – that’s the one making the famous ‘Duke’s Soda’. The factory employees have installed a Ganesha here for years, and it is one of the most popular ones, for they not only have a huge idol of the lord, but also work hard for the theme of the year.
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Ganesha Chaturthi - A tour of some Ganesha Pandals in Bombay

This year, I had planned to write a blog on all the 10 days of the Ganeshotsav, and take you along with me as I visited various Ganesha Pandals. However, all my plans came to naught when my internet conked off on the morning of the very second day. So, first of all, to all those who have left comments on my earlier blogs, I am sorry for the delay, but I have a lot to catch up with, and shall certainly reply to all of you soon. Coming back to the Ganeshotsav , the pandals I visit are not the most popular ones – I certainly don’t have the patience to stand in the never-ending queues for the Lalbaugcha Raja or the Tilak Nagar Ganpati. In any case, there are plenty of photos of these Ganeshas on the net. I shall, however, like you to join me in my tour of some of the Ganesha pandals I normally visit – those near my house, as well as some others we have sentimental ties with. Here is the first Ganesha we saw this year – this one is at thane – a new mandal, one that wasn’t there whe
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A Welcome to Ganesha

The morning dawned bright and clear , but soon it was a swirling mass of clouds which soon burst and soaked us as we prepared to welcome Ganesha, the elephant-headed God. It looked like the heavens were welcoming the gracious lord with welcome showers of rain, which, incidentally, we had almost given up on! We still don’t have any pujas this year , and as we drove along the highway towards my mom’s house, the rains lashed almost till we reached. Then, they suddenly seemed to give up, and all was dry once more. All along the road , people were getting their favourite lord home, covering up his face, as is the custom. His face will be uncovered only when he reaches home and the prayers begin to install him as the most preferred guest for the period. In my mom’s place , prayers were on in full swing, for we have a special puja to go with Ganesh Chaturthi. We not only invite the child-like elephant headed god, but also his mother Parvati, also known as Gowri. According to myth
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