Ganesha festival was celebrated at the Amritapuri Ashram with much devotion and enthusiasm. On Ganesha Chaturthi Day (September 2), after the Ganapati Homa in the Kalari, a special Gaja Puja was held to worship the Lord in the form of an Elephant, in this case the Ashram elephant Lakshmi. An idol of Ganesh has been kept in front of the Kalari, and daily evening bhajans are sung by a group of enthusiastic devotees after the regular ashram bhajans. After being kept in the puja for the past 7-days, the Ganesha statue was taken in a procession. From Kalari, around the Kali Temple towards the main hall Ganesha was carried with fervent bhajans and Panchavadyam, while Amma is giving darshan. Ashram elephant Lakshmi also followed. Then it was carried to the sea for immersion. With the chants of Ganapati Bappa Moriya the idol was submerged in the ocean – reminding us that all names and forms are will merge in the consciousness ultimately.
