T’puram: The 36th edition of Ganeshotsav celebrations organised by Ganeshotsav Trust Committee will be held from Sept 8 to 16, said the organisers.The celebrations, which were initiated in the capital under the leadership of Subrahmanya Kumar of Merylend Studio, former assistant commissioner of police I N Parameshivan Nair and M S Bhuvanachandran has now grown into a state-wide event, the organisers said.Former Isro chairperson G Madhavan Nair is the chairperson of the trust, while R Gopinathan Nair, president of the Attukal Devi Trust, is the convener. Saraswathi Vidyalaya chairperson G Raj Mohan is the chairperson of the celebration committee.The nine-day celebrations will begin with the installation and worship of Ganesha idols and conclude with a procession of the idols and immersion at Shanghumugham. The organisers said the festival is based on the belief that worship of Lord Ganesha brings prosperity and removes obstacles.The idols for this year’s celebrations are being made at a centre in Parottukonam, with artisans from Rajasthan overseeing the work. The idols, ranging from 3ft to 30ft in height, are being made using natural materials such as coir, chalk powder and natural colouring agents to minimise pollution.Idols representing eight traditional forms, including Vakratunda, Gajamukha, Ekadanta, Vighna, Mahodara and Lambodara, as well as 32 avatar forms, including Trimukha Ganapathi, Varada Ganapathi, Tharuna Ganapathi, Veera Ganapathi, Lakshmi Vinayaka, Bala Ganapathi, Heramba Ganapathi and Panchamukha Ganapathi, are being prepared.The trust said more than two lakh households across the state are expected to install and worship small Ganesha idols this year. Various temples and cultural, religious and community organisations have also approached the trust seeking idols as part of the celebrations.Ahead of the immersion ceremony at Shanghumugham, a special ritual aimed at removing obstacles will be conducted at the Arattukadavu, with around 10,000 coconuts being offered. The idols will subsequently be immersed in the sea.
