Vinayaka Chavithi

Tamil's do not say Ganesha. They say Vinayaka. In fact, this beloved god has so many names, that when you celebrate his birthday you have to buy him a parcel of flowers wrapped in a banana leaf so you can give him a flower for every name that he has! At least I think that's how my neighbor described it to me this morning. Regardless, I've replaced Ganesha with Vinayaka in my vocabulary so I don't sound like such a damn American.

Vinayaka's birthday is a BIG holiday! It lasts 10 days. This is how it goes. Street vendors flood the streets with all the paraphanaelia that you have to buy for Vinayaka. Sculptors come with paddies of mud that are formed into figures of Vinayaka, and every family buys one to take home and adore all week long. You also buy a necklace of purple bell flowers that come from some sort of cactus, lotus buds, a parcel of flowers wrapped in a bananna leaf, holy grass, maize, sugar cane and a fancy little umbrella that is carried above Vinayaka's head. Probably other things as well, I haven't learned to whole scoop yet. You also prepare many sweets and special food items. On the 10th day there is a big procession to the sea, and all the adorned Vinayakas go into the ocean and are left there to dissolve (hence being made of mud). Doing this will certainly bring you a lot of prosperity. I think it is a fantastic holiday, and taking pictures at the market today was a real treat. There are more on the flickr page if you like what you see!