Iconic festival brings communities together

It’s traditional pomp, splendour and fanfare at SVT’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations

BY USHA RAMANUJAM ARVIND

Sydneysiders ushered in the season of festivities recently with grand Ganesh Chathurthi celebrations at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple (SVT) in Helensburgh. Marked by day-long events, SVT’s Ganesh Visarjan festival draws Hindu devotees of diverse ethnicity and ancestry (and more recently nonHindu, but no less enthusiastic onlookers) by the thousands.

In recent years, Hindus not merely from India and Sri Lanka, but those from Nepal, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa have been actively involved in the celebrations. The temple committee is now determined to reach out to Hindu brethren of Bhutanese, Thai and Cambodian heritage as well.

Significantly, talks are currently in progress between SVT and Wollongong Council to make the iconic festival a regional fixture.

“The council wants to work closely with us to make this a regional or even a national event and create major activities around it,” temple vice president Murali Dharan told Indian Link

Murali Dharan further indicated that the Hindu Council was liaising with all Hindu temples and associations in Sydney to bring them together for Ganesh Visarjan.

Celebrations this year were extra special as the event coincided with the annual Brahmotsavam. The sprawling temple complex was packed to capacity, with crowds peaking at midday. Whether it was supervising transport arrangements, directing traffic, cooking sumptuous meals or manning queues at the canteen, SVT’s dedicated army of volunteers were on their toes, coordinating the whole exercise without a glitch. Be it veteran committee members or new recruits, service with a smile was the recurring motto.

As is customary, the Chathurthi celebrations began with Trisathi homam, abhishekam, alankaaram and deeparadhana for both the moolavar and utsavar at Siva complex. In keeping with the custom of many decades, SVT president Dr Kanag Baska’s handmade Ganesha held pride of place as thousands paid homage to the God of good beginnings. A number of clay creations made lovingly by devotees young and old, shared the centre-stage.

Amidst chanting, the idols were then taken in a grand procession around the temple, as bhaktas vied with each other for the privilege of carrying the divine burden.

The whole temple was decorated with elaborate thoranams, pandals and intricate flower arrangements, with the best naturally reserved for the deity.

The occasion was as much social, as religious. Outside the praahaaram, the newly erected canopy served as a perfect backdrop for the daylong cultural showcase. Carnatic renditions, bhajans, Bharatanatyam performances both group and solo, kept the milling crowds entertained. Dedicated volunteers engaged young children with clay modelling and decorating workshops.

An absolute stand out was the community kitchen, which has always been a great draw card. It is to the temple committee’s credit that parallel annadhaanam and canteen lines were simultaneously catered for.

The maanga saadham (mango rice) was a great crowd pleaser while masala dosai fans tucked into their all-time favourite. Crunchy ulundu vadais, fluffy idlis, rotti parathas and SVT canteen staples - mixture, laddu and jangiri were also on the menu. Sydney Ayyappa Samaj volunteers doled out endless cups of delicious neeru moru (spicy buttermilk made with a secret recipe apparently). The specially erected pandals offered devotees the perfect venue for relaxed outdoor feasting.

It was time for the muchawaited segment – the final procession to Stanwell Beach. Each year the ‘Bambaiyya’ style procession gets bigger and better as the favourite Hindu god is farewelled amidst chiming of bells, blowing of trumpets and beating of drums by devotees.

This year the Marathi community provided a welcome addition – a traditional percussion band that has already wowed audiences at the Australia India Fair. As the high intensity group unveiled their repertoire, the crowds broke into spontaneous dance. What a feast for the senses; it was a time to forget life’s unending worries and surrender to call of the divine!

It may be recalled that the tradition of communal celebrations was first started by Lokmanya Tilak to awaken the spirit of nationalism among Hindus and unite the community. Despite surging costs, safety issues and increasing pressure on crowd and traffic management, this concept is hugely popular back home. It is little wonder that this age old tradition is bonding the extended Hindu community here in Sydney. If talks with

Wollongong Council eventuate into positive action, the Ganesh Visarjan festival may well become an integral fixture of the region and a testimonial to the vibrant

Amidst chanting, the idols were then taken in a grand procession around the temple, as bhaktas vied with each other for the privilege of carrying the divine burden