Thai tourists join Ganesh idol immersion aarti at Girgaon Chowpatty
Foreign tourists from 23 countries, including Thailand's visitors who joined the aarti, watched the Ganesh immersion at Girgaon Chowpatty from a special enclosure
This year's Ganesh idol immersion ceremony at Mumbai's famous Girgaon Chowpatty, held on Anant Chaturdashi, gave foreign tourists a chance to see and experience Maharashtra's culture up close. The state tourism department, along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, set up a special enclosure for foreign visitors from which they could watch the immersion procession from very close by.
A notable feature of the event was that tourists and guests from 23 countries around the world took part. Visitors from Thailand not only watched the procession but also enthusiastically joined in the aarti of Ganpati Bappa. Traditional Maharashtrian attire, the sound of dhol-tasha drums, crowds of devotees and chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" echoing all around moved the foreign guests.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised the tourism department's arrangements. Chief Minister Fadnavis said Ganeshotsav is now gaining international recognition, and expressed satisfaction over the presence of foreign tourists and the disciplined organisation of the immersion ceremony.
Officials present at the tourism department's special enclosure also performed the Ganpati aarti along with the foreign guests. Also present were Minister for Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Directorate of Tourism Director Vikas Pansare, along with tourism department officers and Maharashtra Tourism's youth ambassador Naveli Deshmukh.
Marco, who came from Italy, said he witnessed and experienced this celebration for the first time. He said the festival showed a confluence of faith, unity and joy that was entirely new to him. Lakhs of devotees chanting "Ganpati Bappa Morya" together was an unforgettable moment for him.
Joanna Suni, who came from Finland, said the immersion ceremony was a unique and heartfelt experience for her. She said the sound of the dhol-tasha, the traditional attire, the devotional atmosphere and the enthusiasm of devotees gave her a sense of the grandeur of Maharashtra's culture. She also said she particularly liked the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of the people here.
Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai said Ganeshotsav is an important part of Maharashtra's cultural heritage. He said the aim of involving foreign tourists in the festival is to carry Maharashtra's traditions to the world, and expressed hope that such events would boost cultural tourism in the state.
Directorate of Tourism Director Vikas Pansare said the special enclosure allowed foreign tourists to watch the immersion procession from close by as well as connect with the spirit of Ganeshotsav. Many tourists captured these moments by taking photographs with the beautiful Ganpati idols. The Ganesh immersion at Girgaon Chowpatty was, for the foreign guests, not just a sightseeing experience but a way to closely know Maharashtra's faith, tradition, festive spirit and culture of hospitality.
