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Journalism of Courage
Written by Neha Rathod
Just as Ganeshotsav is celebrated across India with much faith and fervour, the Indian diaspora across the globe has ensured that the festive spirit equally resonates in their cities of residence in the Gulf, Europe, or even across the Atlantic, while maintaining its intimate, soulful nature and traditional roots.
Speaking about the festivities in the UAE, Gaurav Jaju, a long-time resident of Abu Dhabi, said, “The Maharashtra Mandal here made grand arrangements at the Swaminarayan Temple. Like every year, the Indian Social and Cultural Centre (ISC) hosted bhajans and cultural performances, while darshan was live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube for devotees across the Gulf region.”
The celebrations carried a personal meaning for many families. Prachiti and Kunal Parekh, who visited Dubai’s Ganesh Mandir with their son, summed it up beautifully: “Being here with Bappa feels like being back home.”
Many Indian families based in the UAE had brought idols from India while returning after summer vacations. Others opted for eco-friendly clay Ganeshas available in the bustling neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai and Meena Bazaar, UAE. These markets brimmed with imported idols, festive décor, garlands, and puja essentials — ensuring devotees could recreate the magic of the festival even thousands of miles away from home.
Festive spirit conquers social media
The festive spirit has extended to the digital space as well. Influencers and bloggers have flooded Instagram with reels of Bappa’s aagaman and community celebrations. Lifestyle content creators Nimmi and Prince (@thevegetariancouple) from Dubai expressed their joy, captioning their post, “Never seen Ganeshotsav celebrated in this way in Dubai.”
Mumbai-based blogger Ameya Mandlik highlighted how restaurants in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) like Khau Galli offered special Ganpati darshan, aarti, and food combos, bringing families and friends together in a traditional atmosphere.
Blogger Isha Ranade posted glimpses of Karama and Bur Dubai markets, showcasing rows of murtis and decorative items that helped devotees recreate the warmth of an Indian Ganeshotsav on foreign soil.
For most devotees, the celebrations spanned three days, concluding with immersion in artificial tanks in compliance with local environmental regulations. Meanwhile, Karama’s streets shimmered with lights, and Indian homes in Dubai’s Marina and Downtown high-rises echoed with chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’, serving as a reminder that distance does not diminish faith.
Adding to the festive mood, several groups in Abu Dhabi organised garba evenings and devotional karaoke sessions, blending tradition with community bonding. Across the Gulf, Ganesh Chaturthi may be celebrated on a smaller scale, but the devotion behind it remains unshaken.
In Europe: recreating the cultural bond
This is true for many other countries. In Dublin, the Maharashtra Mandal Ireland has, in just three years, transformed Ganeshotsav into one of the largest Indian community gatherings. The celebration, started in 2023 by Pune-born Aditya Kulkarni, has already grown to such an extent that close to 8,000 people were expected this year for the 10-day festival filled with rituals, cultural performances, and the aroma of ukadiche modak.
Irish residents too are joining in, making up nearly 20 per cent of the attendees, while the Garda (Irish police) extend full support. The celebrations, hosted at the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre and set to culminate on September 6, will see Dublin witnessing its most grand Ganeshotsav yet.
At Milton Keynes in England, the DreamSai Shirdi Sai Baba Temple has recreated the same devotional energy with daily aartis, bhajans, and special cultural evenings. Devotees of all ages are taking part in rituals, singing, and dance performances. For participants like Pooja Agarwal, the festival is deeply personal: “When I step into the mandir during Ganeshotsav, I feel like I am back in India. My kids, who are growing up here, also feel that cultural bond. This is not just a festival, it is a piece of home recreated here.”
In North America: celebrations amid modern challenges
Across the Atlantic, the Montreal Ganesh Utsav Committee conducted a Maha Ganesh Visarjan on August 31. The event included a community procession, complete with dhol, dance, and devotional chants. Organisers urged people to bring eco-friendly idols and celebrate responsibly, keeping sustainability at the heart of tradition.
In New Jersey, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated from August 26 to September 6, with major event held at iconic venues, like the Woodbridge Ganesh Festival and events in Edison and Parsippany. At Parsippany, the Ganesh Utsav is a family-friendly affair, complete with cooking contests, clay idol workshops, karaoke, cultural performances, and a concluding Maha Aarti followed by an eco-conscious visarjan.
The celebrations in Lewisville, Texas saw a display of devotion amid modern-day challenges as the festivities were organized in the parking lot of India Bazaar, complete with a dhol-tasha procession. Videos of the event divided social media, with responses ranging from admiration for cultural expression to criticism over the choice of venue.
