INDIA. Mumbai: The universality of faith and the spirit of inclusivity came to the fore when a group of Thai devotees wholeheartedly participated in Ganeshotsav celebrations, sang an aarti, and paid obeisance to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Notably, these Thai guests are not one-time visitors but have been visiting India during Ganehsotsav for the last 8 years. This year, they have installed their own Ganesha idol alongside the idol installed by the Chandulal Jaisingbhai (CJ) Building Ganesh Utsav Mandal, located at Girgaon in South Mumbai.
The Thai guests who arrived in Mumbai many days in advance of Ganeshotsav purchased a majestic nine-feet idol of Lord Ganesha at the Parel workshop in South Mumbai and installed it in the CJ Building Ganeshotsav Mandal. They will be in Mumbai till immersion on September 28.
Speaking to the Transcontinental Times, Nilesh Mehta, Coordinator of the Mandal, said that these Thai guests have been coming to Mumbai for Ganeshotsav for the last many years and have been adhering to the rich traditions of puja.
“This year, our Ganesh Utsav celebration will be graced by the presence of two divine idols adorning our Mandap. One, our customary idol, and the other, hosted especially for the Thai family,” Mehta added.
The Thai guests comprise a contingent of 70 family members, including Noppadon Subdeng and Ganeshinsuan. Most of the Thai guests are artists participating in Thai films and TV serials. The coordination for the visit of Subdeng and others is being managed by Arvind Poojary, a member of the Mandal.
“Our Mandal is grateful to Lord Ganesha for bestowing upon us the opportunity to uphold the quintessential Indian values of “Athithi Devo Bhava” (The guest is God) and “Vasudev Kutumbakam” (The world is one family). We fervently pray that this cultural exchange strengthens the bonds of friendship between the people of India and Thailand, reaching new heights in the future,” Mehta added.
“CJ Building Ganesh Utsav Mandal, which this year entered its 86th year, is honoured to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to the Thai family devoted to Lord Ganesha, and we are privileged to assist them in realizing their dream of celebrating Ganesh Utsav in the sacred land of Maharashtra, where this grand festival originated, and in Mumbai, where it is celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm,” Mehta said.
Noppadon Subdeng, who spoke to the media, said that although Buddhism is a dominant religion in Thailand, the Thai people do not find the Hindu culture and traditions any different. The Lord Ganesha, Goddess Laxmi, and Kali are close to the hearts of the Thai people, he added.
The Thai guests also sang the arti “Sukhakarta Dukhharta Varta Vighnachi” and raised slogans like “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Ganpati Bappa Super Star” before the media.
Also Read: “Ganeshotsav” Celebrations Get Underway With Zeal and Fervour
