India’s Ganesh Chaturthi festival
Today marks the beginning of festivals across India celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesh. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27.
- Indian delivery men carry gas cylinders past idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 8, 2015. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 17-27 and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist gives finishing touches to idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 8, 2015. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 17-27 and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist works on eco-friendly figures of Hindu God Lord Ganesh made with mud, jute and bamboo at a blue tarp-covered workshop on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 15, 2015. The statues of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols made with mud, jute and bamboo will reduce pollution during the Ganesh immersion. The popular eleven-day long Hindu religious festival, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated from September 17-27 this year. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist works on eco-friendly figures of Hindu God Lord Ganesh made with mud, jute and bamboo at a blue tarp-covered workshop on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 15, 2015. The statues of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols made with mud, jute and bamboo will reduce pollution during the Ganesh immersion. The popular eleven-day long Hindu religious festival, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated from September 17-27 this year. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist works on eco-friendly figures of Hindu God Lord Ganesh made with mud, jute and bamboo at a blue tarp-covered workshop on the outskirts of Hyderabad on September 15, 2015. The statues of eco-friendly clay Ganesh idols made with mud, jute and bamboo will reduce pollution during the Ganesh immersion. The popular eleven-day long Hindu religious festival, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated from September 17-27 this year. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist mixes colors to paint figures of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 15, 2015. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist gives the finishing touches to a figure of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 15, 2015. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist gives the finishing touches to a figure of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 15, 2015. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian artist gives the finishing touches to a figure of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi on September 15, 2015. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian vendor waits for customers as he sells statuettes of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival at a makeshift market in Hyderabad on September 16, 2015. The popular twelve-day Hindu religious festival ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ will be celebrated from September 17-27 this year. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian Oggu artist (L) perform in front of a 59-foot-tall (18-metre) tall idol of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh, popularly known as “Khairatabad Ganesh”, on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Hyderabad on September 17, 2015. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the 11-day long festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian devotees (C) tie a rope around a 59-foot-tall (18-metre) tall idol of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh, popularly known as “Khairatabad Ganesh”, on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Hyderabad on September 17, 2015. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the 11-day long festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- An Indian priest offers flowers at the foot of a 59-foot-tall (18-metre) tall idol of the Hindu god Lord Ganesh, popularly known as “Khairatabad Ganesh”, on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in Hyderabad on September 17, 2015. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the 11-day long festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27. (Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian customers choose idols of the elephant headed Hindu God Lord Ganesha at a roadside market in New Delhi on September 17, 2015, at the start of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the 11-day long festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27. (Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian devotees carry an idol of elephant headed Hindu God Lord Ganesha after purchasing it from a roadside market in New Delhi on September 17, 2015, at the start of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. Hindu devotees bring home idols of Lord Ganesh in order to invoke his blessings for wisdom and prosperity during the 11-day long festival, which culminates with the immersion of the idols in water on September 27. (Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian Hindu devotees perform a ritual worship before transporting idols of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha from an artist’s workshop for Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 17, 2015. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 17-27, and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian Hindu devotees carry an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai on September 17, 2015. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 17-27, and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
- Indian Hindu devotees transport an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Lord Ganesha for Ganesh Chaturthi onto a truck in Mumbai on September 17, 2015. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a popular 11-day religious festival which is annually celebrated across India, runs this year from September 17-27, and culminates with the immersion of the idols in the Arabian Sea and local water bodies. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images)
- People light firecrackers near a huge idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The ten-day long festival celebrates Ganeshas birthday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
- Devotees carry an idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha from a workshop to a worship venue ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. After worshipping during the ten day long festival, the idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
- Idols of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha are lined up for final touches in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The idols are in demand ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
- A volunteer carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion in a pond during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
- Indian devotees carry an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha in the trunk of a taxi during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. The 10-day long Ganesh festival began Thursday and ends with the immersion of Ganesha idols in water bodies on the 10th day. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
- Devotees carry idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha on a handcart during Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha and the 10-day festival ends with immersion of the idols in water bodies. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
- An Indian woman carries an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha on a cycle cart for sale on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, begins Sept. 17. The idols will be immersed in water bodies at the end of the 10-day festival. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
- Indian commuters pass by a row of idols of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha displayed for sale ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Bangalore, India, Wednesday, Sept.16, 2015. After worshipping the idols in their homes or specially set up worship venues, devotees immerse them in water bodies at the end of the festival. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
- An Indian child eats snacks as she sits in front of idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha displayed for sale ahead of Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. The ten day long Ganesh festival begins on Sept. 17. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
- Indians carry an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for sale ahead of Ganesha Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015. The ten day long Ganesh festival begins on Sept. 17. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
- A cyclist rides past rows of idols of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesh displayed for sale in Bangalore, India, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. The idols are in demand ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
- Devotees transport an idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha from a workshop to a worship venue ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. After worshipping during the ten day long festival, the idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
- Devotees cover an idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha with a plastic sheet at a workshop before shifting the same to a worship venue ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. After worshipping during the ten day long festival, the idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
- People watch as devotees transport an idol of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha from a workshop to a worship venue ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. After worshipping during the ten day long festival, the idol will be immersed in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
- An Indian boy sits next to his father as he gives final touches to the idols of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The idols are in demand ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
- An Indian artisan gives final touches to the idols of elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The idols are in demand ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)