GANESHA- Celebration

This week, at a Hindu temple in Flushing, New York, the festival of Ganesh Chathurti is taking place. It’s all in honor of the much loved elephant-faced deity named Lord Ganesha, who has fondness for business and an appetite for sweets. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by the American Museum of Natural History.

Uma Mysorekar is President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America. She tells us that one highlight of the celebration is a procession during which a figure of Ganesha is carried though the neighborhood.

“The procession goes around the main streets of Flushing. Thousands of people accompany. The significance of this is while many devotees do come to temple to worship Lord Ganesha, Ganesha goes out to bless just about anyone. And especially the businesses. That’s why we take him to the business district that he graces them for the better prosperity for the upcoming year. ”

And, in exchange for his blessings, Ganesha is treated with one of his favorite desserts.

“It is called Modica. The outer covering is with flour, inside is the combination of coconut with brown sugar and it is put inside and then they fry it. It is a very special, very delicious food and Ganesha is believed to be very fond of it.”

Pulse of the Planet is presented by the American Museum of Natural History. Additional funding for this series has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I’m Jim Metzner.

GANESHA- Celebration

Hinduism's favorite elephant receives his dues this week in the annual festival of Ganesh Chathurti.
Air Date:09/15/1999
Scientist:
Transcript:

This week, at a Hindu temple in Flushing, New York, the festival of Ganesh Chathurti is taking place. It's all in honor of the much loved elephant-faced deity named Lord Ganesha, who has fondness for business and an appetite for sweets. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by the American Museum of Natural History.

Uma Mysorekar is President of the Hindu Temple Society of North America. She tells us that one highlight of the celebration is a procession during which a figure of Ganesha is carried though the neighborhood.

"The procession goes around the main streets of Flushing. Thousands of people accompany. The significance of this is while many devotees do come to temple to worship Lord Ganesha, Ganesha goes out to bless just about anyone. And especially the businesses. That's why we take him to the business district that he graces them for the better prosperity for the upcoming year. "

And, in exchange for his blessings, Ganesha is treated with one of his favorite desserts.

"It is called Modica. The outer covering is with flour, inside is the combination of coconut with brown sugar and it is put inside and then they fry it. It is a very special, very delicious food and Ganesha is believed to be very fond of it."

Pulse of the Planet is presented by the American Museum of Natural History. Additional funding for this series has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I'm Jim Metzner.