Goans celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi in Kuwait

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most important and the grandly celebrated Hindu festival. In Goa people, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in every house as well as in Public where Ganesh idols are worshiped. Pujas are performed and delicious naivaidya ‘Modak’ is offered, which is one the favorite of Lord Ganesh.
It is not only the people in Goa who celebrate this festival. Those who are leaving abroad also make it from their working schedule to celebrate the Ganesh Chaturthi with fun and devotion.

This is how Goans celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi in Kuwait. They celebrate it every year, and it is either 1 and half days or 5 days. Together with all Goan colleagues and known who works abroad celebrates it. They also prepare Matoli and prepares spicy, sweet dishes too, the same as how we prepare here for the festival.

Below are some pictures sent to us by Bhalchan Mandrekar.

In 2010, 2011 they did celebrate but in 2012, 2013 some of their friends left Kuwait so they were not able to celebrate but last year they all reunited and celebrated this energetic and most loved festival with a minimum of people and on a smaller scale. But this year in 2014 they got support from lots of their friends so they made it big.
2 weeks before the actual day they started with preparations like cleaning, decorations, lighting, and everything was set up a week before. Like Goa, they also prepare MATOLI with the things available. 2 days before they did shopping for Chaturthi. All things required like tulsi leaves, banana leaves, mango leaves, durva, flowers, and all other things. It is very much easy and possible to get these things in the Kuwait market. They get the Ganesh idol a day before as informed by the Bhalchan Mandrekar. They make sure that everything goes well and smoothly without any hassle. They start cooking at 11 pm till 9 am which consists of all type of food item which is specially prepared during a festival. All contribute and make this festival possible even in a foreign land. Yuvraj Khanolkar prepared most of the delicious tasty Goan food which recalled Ganesh Chaturthi they use to celebrate with their family in Goa as informed by the Balchan.

Not only Hindu Goan Catholic brothers also helped them a lot in this event from decorations till Ganesh Visarjan. As said by the Balchan “They all were with us gave us full support and helped us a lot to make this festival more enjoyable and memorable”. More than 300 people had come for Ganesh darshan on both days. They performed Aartis on both days on the 1st and 2nd day. With the help of all our friends, this Ganesh festival was a big success.
Video of Ganesh celebration was telecasted on goa news 365 on 30 and 31 Aug 2014.

While putting some more light on this celebration Bhalchan added saying in Kuwait all are working and holidays are limited so they can’t keep Ganesh for 5 days so every year they keep it for 1 and half days.