TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, May 10, 2002: With a fellowship of over 10,000 Hindus, the Richmond Hill Temple in the Toronto area is in the middle of a 15-day long festival honoring Lord Ganesa, the remover of obstacles. In the midst of it all, Saravanamuthu Jeyarajah, a talented sculptor from Sri Lanka, is carving a three-ton chariot to carry Lord Ganesha in a three-hour procession around the main temple on May 24th. Measuring 10 meters high and 6 meters in diameter, the chariot is shaped like a lotus and is made of wood. When asked about the design Jeyarajah replies, “I have no blueprint. It comes out of my head. God has blessed me with the ability to do this. My family has been doing this for generations.” After completion, the chariot will be the largest in North America. The 15-day festival called “Rathotsavam,” or chariot festival, is one of the three major festivals celebrated at the Richmond Temple. Hindus around the world have been observing chariot festivals for thousands of years. On May 24, the height of the festivities, the article says, “A tiny intricately fashioned bronze and copper icon of Ganesha will be placed inside the heart of the chariot.” Temple executor director Taguram Thiagaraja explains, “The festival is significant because the Lord Ganesa bestows all blessings on the people who see him. It is a time when Ganesa is among the people.”
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