DEVOTEES came together for the “Ganesh Chathurthi Maha Utsav” – a Penang festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.
The festival is also popularly known as Vinayagar Chathurthi.
Held at the Temple of Fine Arts Penang in Lebuhraya Babington, guests were treated to dinner as well as performances including musical, drama and silambam presentations.
Devotional songs took centre stage with Thirumuraigal Sirappu, a melodious recital of hymns from the Thirumurai scriptures.
Next came Ganesha Katha, with Shri Shankar Kandasamy bringing alive the story of the elephant-headed Hindu deity.
The Gajanana, a classical vocal performance praising Lord Ganesha was showcased too.
The Mallari, presented through Bharatanatyam, reiterated the devotional mood.
It comprised a vibrant Rajasthani folk dance and playful dramatisation of people meeting the god of wealth, Kubera.
The tempo rose with an energetic Bhangra, before returning to devotion with a series of classical dances such as Ganesha Sthuthi, Ganapathim and Ganesha Vandana.
A spirited Sukhakarta Lavani folk dance and grand offering of light, prayer and collective joy brought the night to a close. — LO TERN CHERN
More photos
Children showing their talent during the festival in Penang.
Gajanana vocal performance praising Lord Ganesha.
Bhangra performance, a Punjabi folk dance.
Traditional Bharatanatyam dance of Mallari.
Ganesha Sthuthi, another devotional dance in honour of Lord Ganesha.
