First of all, please accept my apologies. I have never been to India. In this context, please do not assume that this post is a comparison of the festival. We are a small country here, but our hearts are filled with love and devotion. With my limited understanding of the festival, let me give you a tour of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius. 

Ganesh Chaturthi is a grand affair in Mauritius. It is prevalent and famous among the Marathi Culture here. It is celebrated with great pomp and fervor by the Hindu community, including myself. The high importance of the festival is denoted by the fact that it is a public holiday in Mauritius. 

A traditional Hindu temple will always have an idol or picture of Ganesh Bhagwan. It is no secret that Lord Shiva will not accept someone’s prayers if Ganesh Bhagwan is not invoked. The inception of Ganesh Chaturthi is marked by the poignant entry of the Ganesh Bhagwan’s clay idol into the house of His devotees, 10 days prior to the festival during the Sthapana ritual. Most of the idols are made locally by devout devotees. For some devotees, it takes the form of turmeric idol which they make with great devotion. 

Photo Credits: Unsplash 

🙇🏻‍♂️Hari Om🙇🏻‍♂️