Vinayagar Chaturthi

Ganesha is one of the most popular gods in Hinduism, and is easily identified by his elephant head. He is a symbol of intellect and is believed to remove obstacles in one's life.

This blog contains 20 photos from the festival dedicated to him, Ganesh Chaturthi, which was celebrated in Chennai. The festival is more popularly known as Vinayagar Chaturthi among Tamilians.

Locations :
Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu;
Chennai District, Tamil Nadu.

Photos shot in August 2017.

All photos © S Srikant.

A boy brushes one of Ganesha idols for sale in Medavakkam, Chennai, as Vinayagar Chaturthi approaches.

A Ganesha idol gets spray-painted in a pandal in Pudupet, Chennai.

A Ganesha idol is unloaded to be installed in a pandal in Pudupet, Chennai.

A priest decorates a Ganesha idol on the occasion of Vinayagar Chaturthi in Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Alayam in Medavakkam, Chennai, before it is taken in procession.

A procession carrying Lord Ganesha in Velachery - Tambaram Road in Pallikaranai, Chennai.

Puja (worship) going on in Sri Sundara Vinayagar Alayam in Pallikaranai, Chennai.

A woman prays at a Ganesha pandal in Chennai.

A religious procession in front of Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Alayam in Medavakkam, Chennai.

A senior policeman watches a Ganesha idol being lifted to the shore on immersion day in Pattinapakkam, Chennai.

Volunteers push a Ganesha idol against the waves.

A crane lifts a Ganesha idol with rope in Chennai.

Volunteers roll an idol as they push it into the Bay of Bengal in Pattinapakkam, Chennai.

A goods vehicle arrives with a Ganesha idol for immersion in Pattinapakkam, Chennai.

Pattinapakkam beach on immersion day.

A dash of saffron in Chennai as a group of Ganesha devotees prepare to unload their lord.

A Ganesha idol dangles in the air as it gets moved by the crane boom in Pattinapakkam, Chennai.

Ganesha idol being moved by young men.

A schoolboy Ganesha has many people amused on immersion day in Chennai!

2 Ganesha idols in trolley are moved on temporary rails towards the sea.

An idol rests in a truck as another goes mid-air on immersion day in Chennai.