The most important festival in Mumbai is Ganesh
Chaturthi, in honour of Lord Ganesh. Celebrated in the month of August/September,
it is the birthday of Ganesh - the elephant headed son of Shiva and Parvathi.
Ganesh is believed to remove all obstacles to success and bring good luck
and prosperity and keeps natural calamities at bay in the lives of those
who worship him. This ten day festival begins with the installation of
the deity, who is then worshipped daily till the immersion on the final
day. Small Ganesh idols are installed in homes. Some idols tower up to
10m high and weigh several tonnes. On the tenth day, processions fill
the streets and with the accompaniment of drumbeats and music, the image
of Ganesh is immersed in the water. Devotees chant 'Ganapati Bappa Morya'
which means Ganesh, Daddy, please come back soon next year.
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