General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Rituals, Customs
• Language: Marathi
• Country: India

Informant Data:

• Informant is an Indian couple who perform the ceremony every year for Ganesh Chaturthi. The man is involved in the ceremony (as seen in picture)

Contextual Data:

• Social Context: The Pooja is the traditional prayer that occurs during Ganesh Chaturthi. These prayers are directed at a clay idol of god Ganesh, the remover of obstacles as well as the god of beginnings.
• Cultural Context: This holiday is celebrated in early autumn and the pooja involves the chanting of Hindu prayers and Vedic texts.

Item:

Picture of the pooja being conducted. The male informant follows the pundit’s instructions to honour Lord Ganesh. The female informant is the one taking the picture.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):

Informant’s Comments:

The pooja is done once when the idol comes into the home and once before it leaves. It is meant to first acquaint the God and people of the home, then as a goodbye when the God leaves.

Collector’s Comments:

This couple has been performing the pooja for decades, as passed down through their families.

Collector’s Name:

Yohann Curmully

Tags/Keywords:

India, holiday, Ganesh Chaturthi, Customary Folklore, customs