INDIA
Decorated idol of lord Ganesha, chanting of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’, singing of traditional aarti, and women playing garba may give an impression that one is at a Ganesh pandal in Ahmedabad or Surat. But such is the scene in Antwerp, Belgium, too.
Decorated idol of lord Ganesha, chanting of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’, singing of traditional aarti, and women playing garba may give an impression that one is at a Ganesh pandal in Ahmedabad or Surat. But such is the scene in Antwerp, Belgium, too.
Gujaratis settled in Antwerp have kept the local traditions alive by celebrating Ganesh chaturthi with great fervour. The festival in the city, known as the diamond capital of the world, is organised by BAPS Sanstha vzw for the past many years. This year too, the organisation has brought a beautiful idol of Lord Ganesha at Stadspark, the heart of Antwerp.
Although the festival was only a two-day affair in Antwerp — the idol was brought on September 18 and immersed the next day — it was celebrated with much enthusiasm by the Gujarati community there. And like every year, the idol was specially brought from Mumbai for the occasion.
Dr J Bhagwati, the Indian ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg & EU who opened the festival with a pooja, said, “That the Gujarati community is keeping its religious tradition alive even while residing in a foreign country is remarkable. I can’t think of any other community that has been able to do the same. This also shows how closely knit the Indian community is in Antwerp.”
A cultural programme was also organised as part of the Ganesh chaturthi celebrations. Devotees were served laddoos and other traditional food items as prasad.
Shyam Patel, trustee of BAPS Sanstha and one of the key persons behind the celebration in Antwerp, said, “We celebrate the festival in a traditional manner every year. All Indians, be it Gujaratis, Rajasthanis or South Indians, take part in the festival. In fact, even the Belgians have come forward in impressive numbers to take part in the festivities.” The Sanstha maintains a Swaminarayan Temple in Antwerp, where daily prayers are offered. The Gujarati community in Antwerp also celebrates other major Hindu
festivals, such as Navratri and Diwali.
Guru Nanak Jayanti 2024: Know date, time and significance of festival
DSP tracks down vegetable vendor after 14 years, reason will leave you surprised
Chennai Rain Alert: Heavy showers expected today, IMD issues warning to 11 districts
Ankur Warikoo shares details about his annual salary, reveals he earns Rs...
Donald Trump chooses Elon Musk to lead THIS new Department, it is...
Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 LIVE UPDTES: Voting for first phase begins
IND vs SA: Arshdeep Singh on verge of scripting history, need 8 wickets to achieve THIS massive feat
Bulldozer justice: SC to pronounce verdict today on pleas for guidelines on demolition of properties
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
Russia plans to boost birth rate with 'Ministry of Sex', here's how
Jharkhand HC issues notice to MS Dhoni in business deal case, asks him to...
IND vs SA, 3rd T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs South Africa match
Meet IAS officer, aka 'Collector Bro', who cracked UPSC exam in 2007, now suspended due to...
Here’s why Chunky Panday wouldn’t stay in Shah Rukh Khan’s house in London
Yash's Toxic in trouble? FIR filed against producers of KGF star's upcoming actioner for illegal...
Meet Dr Priti Challa, Kangana Ranaut film director Krish Jagarlamudi's second wife, she leads...
Yaariyan actor Himansh Kohli ties the knot with mystery girl in Delhi temple, first wedding pics out
‘Sometimes I wish I was more tough, more thick-skinned,’ says Aishwarya Rai in viral video
KL Rahul sweats hard in Perth nets ahead of BGT series, WATCH video here
Shahid Kapoor, wife Mira Kapoor rent out their Rs 580000000 luxury Mumbai apartment for Rs...
South Korean actor Song Jae-rim dies at 39 in Seoul apartment
Viral video: Thar SUV gets stuck on railway track after man tries to shoot reel, watch here
Elon Musk's new X post claims Putin must not be blamed for Russia-Ukraine war, instead names…
Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives fame Shalini Passi reveals 'Mom used chilli powder in my...'
My experiences with dating apps
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals how company got its name, says 'we wanted…'
Key Differences Between the Indian Stock Market and Global Indices
Stock prices vs company valuation: Is your stock worth it?
Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on Kapil Sharma's show after five years, but there's a twist
Mukesh Ambani set to invest Rs 65000 crore in THIS Indian state, it will be Reliance's biggest...
Mohammed Shami to return to competitive cricket; star pacer set to play for…
Makoons World School brings a new approach to K-12 education across India
Pakistan Cricket looking to take BIG step on Champions Trophy issue, planning to...
Did Isha Ambani lend Neetu Kapoor her Navratna necklace? Reddit users react
J-K: Gunfight underway between security forces and terrorists in Bandipora
Viral video shows women as 'live mannequins' in mall, sparks fury; WATCH
As Vistara bids goodbye, Air India-Vistara's first flight takes off from Mumbai to...
GATE 2025 Schedule: Exams to begin from February 1; Check full timetable here
CBSE announces BIG changes in Class 10,12 board exams 2025, know details here
Veteran Bengali actor Manoj Mitra dies at 86
Isha Ambani graces Diwali party as she walks with her twins, husband, WATCH
Donald Trump plans to pick Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State: Report
Vadodara IOCL refinery fire: Death toll rises to 2; probe underway
Shah Rukh Khan death threat: Mumbai police arrest accused from Chhattisgarh's Raipur
Delhi reports record high chikungunya, malaria cases in 5 years
Japan's Nara deer's polite bow to Indian woman leaves netizens in awe, WATCH