Re: Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all Indian and Pakistani Hindus
Ganesh Puja was prevalent in Maharashtra since the ancient times. Indians owe it to the great Indian thinker and freedom fighterLokmanya ( Bal Gangadhar) Tilak for reviving it. He used to unite the people and arouse them against the misdeeds of foreign rule. Its popularity has only grown in recent times. The annual ceremony at Chowpatty ( Mumbai ka beach ) gets lacs of people wanting to have a dekho at the Elephant God being immersed into the Arabian Sea.
Lord Ganesh is worshipped in different forms in India and abroad. At Jabbalpore the Lord appears in a female form. At Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh he appears as playing a flute.
Lord Ganesh is worshipped as Mahabini in Borneo, Totkar in Mongolia, Tchoprak in Tibet, Brahganesh in Cambodia, Kwanshidiyik in China, Vinayaksha in Japan. Vaishnavites call him Vishwak Sena. There is a rock cut temple in King-Hsein in China for him. With five faces he is worshipped in Nepal. In a Yogic pose of meditation he attracts the people of Java. He can truly be said to be India’s international God.
With some many Americans visiting India and Indians in IT you will find many Ganesh idols and pictures in many American offices/cubilces.
http://www.littleindia.com/news/135/ARTICLE/1656/2007-02-02.html