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Upcoming
Events
December
- 2011
Pancha Ganapati Celebration
December
is a time of celebration for the people of many religious
faiths, and we are no exception. Our own
Pancha Ganapati is a
festival to the five-faced Ganapati. The holiday is celebrated
with five days of gift giving and festivities within the home,
merriment and mirth meant especially for our children.
The
festival will take place in Chicago from
December
21st through the 25th
“All are Welcome”
Each
day is celebrated within a different home
beginning
at 5:00pm, with the festivities taking place from
6:30pm
to 7:30pm.
Prasadam,
sweets and dinner (potluck) will be served.
One
each day a tray of sweets, fruits and incense is offered to
Pancha Ganapati. Chants, songs and bhajans are sung in His
praise. After puja, sweets are shared as prasada. And on each
day gifts are given to the children, who place them before
Pancha Ganapati, to be opened only on the fifth day.
During each of the five days the entire family focuses upon a
different sadhana. A festive shrine is set up in the main living
room of the home. At the center is placed Ganapati deity.
Flashing lights, tinsel and colorful hanging ornaments
will decorate the home shrine. Each day deity and the shrine
decorated anew in a different color, as specified below. It’s
recommended that we all try to dress in the respective colored
clothes to match each day’s color.
Day One: Wednesday, December 21
The
deity is dressed in yellow or gold.
(Location will be announced shortly)
The
sadhana for the first day is to create a vibration of love and
harmony among the immediate family. Amends for misdeeds
performed, insults misspoken, mental pain and injuries caused
and suffered.
Day Two: Thursday, December 22
The
deity is dressed in royal blue.
(Location will
be announced shortly)
The
second day is devoted to creating a vibration of love and
harmony among neighbors, relatives and close friends, and
offering apologies to clear up any misunderstandings. Those
living far off are written to or called, forgiveness is sought
and tensions released.
Day Three: Friday, December 23
The
deity is dressed in ruby red.
(Location will
be announced shortly)
On the
third day the family works to create a vibration of love and
harmony among associates, and acquaintances. This is the day for
presenting gifts to merchants, customers, employers and
employees. The sadhana today is to settle debts and disputes.
Day Four: Saturday, December 24
The
deity is dressed in emerald green.
(Location will
be announced shortly).
The
sadhana for day four is to draw forth the vibration of joy and
harmony that comes from music, art, drama and the dance.
Day
Five: Sunday, December 25
The
deity is dressed in brilliant orange.
(Location will be announced
shortly).
The
sadhana for the final day is to bring forth love and harmony
within all three worlds. Ganapatis blessings fill the home and
hearts of everyone within it, inspiring them anew for the coming
year. The puja to Pancha Ganapati solicit help from His devas in
the home and establish the patterns for improvement in family
life.
At
six o’clock in the evening, the final puja is performed. All
participating families will bring the children gifts and are
exchanged or distributed. After the puja and before the great
feast that follows, all gifts are joyously opened. Lord Pancha
Ganapati gives His final darsana and prasada to one and all.
Happy
children. Happy parents. Happy God!
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