If you’re in Mauritius on September 11, 2021, you’ll be able to watch or participate in Ganesh Chaturthi. This is one of the island’s most important events in terms of its cultural and religious landscape. The festival celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the Hindu god of prosperity and wisdom, also considered the Lord of Beginnings.

If you live near the beaches and water bodies you’ll notice devotees carrying small idols of the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha to them that day. They decorate the idols with red paste and yellow and red flowers. They immerse them in the water, which is called Ganesh Visarjan, and chant Ganapati Bappa Morya. Ganesha slowly disappears while they pay their respects, taking their worries with him and leaving blessings behind.

The festival date changes according to the Hindu calendar. This year it falls on Saturday, September 11. Ganesh Chaturthi is a public holiday so that means a day off for most people. Shops may close or follow Saturday opening hours.

Mauritius celebrations 

Since 1986, Ganesh Chaturthi has been observed on the island. This colorful, vibrant holiday celebration is not to be missed. Preparations for the festival begin long in advance. Devotees conduct morning prayers and make offerings of coconut and other sweet treats to the deity from 10 days before the actual event.

On the day, Hindu devotees dance and chant accompanied by drumbeats and the harmonious sounds of cymbals and bells as they make their way to the water carrying brightly colored clay statues of Lord Ganesh. Once they put them in the ocean or river, they gradually fall apart, the remains settling underfoot.

Why the focus on water? Because Lord Ganesh’s element is water so the point of the immersion in the ocean or river is to allow him to return to this environment until the next celebration. Another source states that the ritual symbolizes the idol’s journey to Mount Kailas, which is the home of his parents, Shiva and Parvati. Another says the festival celebrates his birthday.

The Ganesh Chaturthi story 

Legend has it that Parvati shaped a boy doll from dough or sandalwood paste. She named him Ganesh, breathed life into him, and told him to guard the door while she had a bath. Shiva took exception when Ganesh forbade him to enter. There was a fight, and Ganesh suffered a fatal blow. When Parvati begged Shiva to bring him back to life. He complied, replacing his head with that of a young elephant.

If you’ve read this far you may have noticed the interchangeability of Ganesh and Ganesha. That’s because Lord Ganesh has 108 names and is also known as Gajanana, Ganesh, Ganesha, and Gajadant. The idol is considered to be a symbol of wisdom, good luck, writing, commerce, travel, and fortune. There is a lot more symbolism in the idol. In three of his hands, Ganesh holds a lotus for enlightenment, a hatchet to sever attachments, sweets as rewards for those who follow a righteous path. The fourth hand adopts a pose of blessing, the Aashirwad Mudra.

Ganesh Chaturthi became a public celebration when the 17th-century Maratha ruler Shivaji used it to drum up support among his subjects, who were in combat with the Mughals. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Indian nationalist leader, revived the festival in the 19th-century when the British banned political assemblies.

Organic alternatives  

Because the crumbling clay of the idols is seen to affect marine life devotees are encouraged to find more eco-friendly alternatives. A Mumbai-based group came up with seed balls that can grow into plants after immersion. And since 2015, Sprouts Environment Trust has used things like corn and vegetable powder for the idols. These products disintegrate easily in seawater and can be consumed by marine organisms. The deities are colored naturally with turmeric, chandan, and geru (colored soil) to further safeguard the aquatic biodiversity. Elsewhere, Ganesh idols have been made using tulsi seeds, giloy and more. In addition, there is another initiative called Chocolate Ganesha, the proceeds of which often benefit the underprivileged.