ILE DE FRANCE, FRANCE, August 17, 2017 (by Elsa Marnette): For the first time since the temple of La Courneuve (in the northern Paris suburbs) has been in existence, the God Ganesh was paraded down the street. Several thousand faithful from all over the Paris region rushed to attend this celebration of the elephant-headed God and thank him for bringing them “health, happiness and peace.” “I would like to be an Indian,” sitting on a bench, a little girl and her companion commented on the colorful parade that passed before their admiring eyes. These were musicians announcing the arrival of Ganesh’s chariot, the elephant-headed God, a symbol of wisdom. It is the first time that the favorite God of Hindus appeared in the streets of La Courneuve. “We want to thank him for health, happiness, peace,” says a young man. The celebration is part of the temple of Sri Sithi Vinayagar.
“It is a great honor for the mayor to grant us this privilege, for years we have been asking to celebrate outside of the temple premises,” says Vithurgashan who draws the chariot of Murugan, brother of Ganesh. “It makes us happy to show everyone our culture.” “The population of Paris Hindus is integrated (into French society) to the maximum but we also try to preserve our culture and our language,” explains Seyon, one of the organizers of the event. And events like this makes it possible to reunite the diaspora. The Hindu community is estimated at 50,000 to 100,000 people.