Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Siddhi Vinayak Temple -Mumbai's richest temple Trust
The old temple had an ancient architectural style, consisting of a hall, a sanctum sanctorum, some free open space, the temple's administrative office to the right and a water tank in the front.
The Siddhi Vinayak temple as it stands today is an architecturally transformed shrine.
The first floor of the temple is a mezzanine floor mainly used for pujas and darshan. The second floor houses the kitchen used to make the ‘Shree Maha Naivedya' (offering), and a restroom.
The Naivedya prepared in the kitchen is carried to the sanctum sanctorum by an elevator. This floor also has the administrative offices of the supervisor and an assistant supervisor.
The third floor houses the temple's central office. The fourth floor has the temple library with an exhaustive collection of over 8,000 books.
The fifth floor is mainly used for food preparations during festivals and fire offerings.
The temple's garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) is an octagonal enclosure, 10 feet wide, and comprises a silver-plated makhar. Makhar is a smaller structure within the garbhagriha housing the idol of the Lord. The dome inside the garbhagriha is gold-plated and has been designed to enhance the beauty of the idol. It is lighted with an exquisite chandelier.
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Labels: ashtavatar, devotees, festivals, garbhagriha, Mumbai's richest temple Trust, old temple, Prabhadevi, Shree Maha Naivedya, Siddhi Vinayak Temple
Monday, November 5, 2007
Lakshmi welcomed with lights, diyas and action
Diwali is celebrated in Gujarat with great gusto and aplomb. As Gujarat develops into one of India's fastest growing business and trading hubs, Diwali has, in recent times, seen phenomenal commercial activity during the period. Lakshmi puja, again central to Diwali celebrations, usually takes place 18 days after the end of Navratri (Dusshera), and lasts for five days. The first day of this five-day celebration begins with Dhanteras (Dhanatrayodashi), followed by Narakachaturdashi, which is also known as Kalichoudas. The third day is chopda pujan while Gujarat's New Year (Gudi Padava) normally occurs (depending on the Hindu calendar) on the fourth day and Bhathru Dwithiya on the last day. There is a belief that Goddess Lakshmi visits homes that are well lit.
Therefore, all Gujarati families decorate their houses with light, flowers, festoons, candles and diyas. They create rangolis and also draw small footprints with rice flour and vermilion powder inside their homes. Shopping is a huge affair with the whole family dividing up tasks.
Hence, the markets in Gujarat liven up a month before Diwali - from jewelry, clothes, sweets and gift items to firecrackers. However, the markets of Gujarat down their shutters on Dhanteras, two days before Diwali until Labh Pancham. For traders and businessmen, this is vacation time.
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Labels: celebrations, diwali, festivals, indian temples, laxmi puja
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