Shree Ganesh Festival, in its 28th year, will be celebrated in Muscat (Oman) from September 19 to 21. To be held in Muscat Shiva Temple, it will reportedly include Ganesh Pratishtapana, Panchamrita Abhisheka, Gana Homa, poojas, Vedic chants, Ganesh Sahasranama Smarane, Bharatnatyam/Odissi dances, traditional floral decorations, bhajans, Shukla Yajurveda Ghanam chanting, Veena recital, etc.; besides offering of laddu/modaka/chakkuli. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, applauding the Oman Hindu community for organizing this elaborate Ganesh Festival, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, wished that all prayers of Oman devotees be answered on auspicious occasion of Ganesh-Chaturthi, which falls on September 19 this year celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesh. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged the Oman seekers to undertake deeper study of Hindu scriptures as it would open another eye for them. As our scriptures told us: conquer your passions and senses; meditate; keep your heart pure and full of love; seek higher knowledge; and realize Self which is deathless, source of all light and knows all, Zed suggested. Popular festival of Ganesh-Chaturthi is celebrated on fourth day of the bright lunar fortnight of Bhadrapada, which may last for up to ten days. One of most widely worshipped deities in Hinduism, elephant headed (with a broken tusk) and human bodied Lord Ganesh is regarded as god of wisdom and good luck, patron of learning and remover of obstacles, and invoked at the commencement of all undertakings. He is said to have equivalents in Buddhism and Jainism also. Business people and students present their books to Lord Ganesh to ensure good fortune. Ramesh Shettigar is reportedly the convener of Muscat Shree Ganesh Festival Committee, which is formed of large number of volunteers. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. Muscat, which means “anchorage", is the burgeoning capital of Sultanate of Oman, oldest independent state in the Arab world. Its Internet domain is “.om", which is similar to “Om", Hinduism's mystical syllable containing the universe. Most Omanis follow the Ibadi form of Islam and Qaboos Bin Said Al Said is the Sultan. Lonely Planet has described Muscat as “forward-thinking” and “spotlessly clean and whimsically uniform city”. Besides Shiva temple, Muscat has reportedly a Krishna temple also.
