UNITED STATES, August 21, 2020 (India Times by Archana Adalja): Ganesh festival, like other festivals, is a happy occasion for Indians in the U.S. as it offers relaxed times when one can speak Indian, dress Indian, eat Indian food and go to temples and mingle with other Indians. Every year in the U.S., Ganesh celebrations take place in California cities of Los Angeles, Seattle, Fremont and Concord, in Houston and Chicago. It has been a major festival for Indians in Philadelphia and Woodbridge, New Jersey.
In New York, the Maha Vallabha Ganesh Temple in Flushing holds a beautiful Ganesh festival each year with crowds of parents and children dressed in festive Indian clothes, bringing gifts of flowers and going back with free “prasadam” from the temple. The evening arati is a visual treat for first time visitors as a team of priests wave tall brass lamps, after which a smaller Ganesh image is carried for an outing around the whole temple. The final day, Ganesh rides the silver chariot. All this happens every year until this year. This year, most regular activities of the festival held August 14 through 22, were virtual. But the Flushing temple was open for in-person viewing and prayer for five hours with an extra one hour at night for 30 devotees at a time for ten minutes.
“Ganesh Utsav” was held in Bellerose, New York, on a grand scale for the past two years. Held at the YMCA grounds with free parking, the festive 14 feet tall image was in one tent, while in another, activities and talent competitions went on through the day. This year, viewing will be allowed with social distancing precautions for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening. Virtual musical show, fashion show, ghazal concert, comedy show, and dance performances will continue for five days.
Ganesha festivals are celebrated all over India and overseas. To read more see “source”.