Among Delhi's several well-known Ganesh temples, the one drawing the most attention this year for its five-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebration is the Siddhivinayak Temple in Sector 22, Block G, Noida, part of Delhi-NCR. The temple will celebrate the Shri Vinayak Chaturthi Mahotsav from September 11 to September 15, and bookings for the festival have already opened for anyone who wants to arrange a special puja or join in with their family.
Delhi's other prominent Ganesh temples
The Ganesh temple at Connaught Place has long been a centre of devotion for worshippers in Delhi. Mayur Vihar Phase 1 is home to the Shri Shubh Siddhivinayak Temple, while Dwarka has its own Vinayak Temple, and Mayur Vihar also houses an old, well-known Ganesh temple. Amid all these, the Siddhivinayak Temple in Noida stands out for the scale of its five-day programme, its abhishek rituals and its grand procession, drawing large numbers of devotees every year.
What the five-day schedule looks like
The celebrations begin on September 11, when a special abhishek of Ganesh ji will be performed from 6:30 am to 11:30 am, followed by a second abhishek from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm the same evening. Cultural programmes and music performances are also planned for the day, along with distribution of prasad to devotees. From September 12 through September 15, the temple will host cultural programmes centred on Ganpati Maharaj every day. Prasad distribution, abhishek, shringar of the idol and offering of new garments to Ganesh ji will all take place daily, and several well-known artists are expected to perform during these days. All of these events will be held within the temple premises so that devotees can take part without any inconvenience.
A grand procession through the neighbourhood
The Shri Vinayak Chaturthi Mahotsav is held every year around Ganesh Chaturthi, and its biggest draw remains the shobha yatra, or procession. During the procession, devotees carry idols of Ganpati Maharaj through different residential blocks, giving local residents a chance for darshan while chanting kirtans along the way. The procession is known for its grandeur and typically draws a large turnout of devotees.
How much a booking costs
Devotees who wish to contribute towards the seva, or service, at the temple can choose contribution amounts of Rs 101, Rs 301, Rs 501 or Rs 1501. These packages include services such as a day's puja and a full day's abhishek along with a silver Raja Vibhuti offering, among other services. Rates vary depending on the specific service booked, with the cheapest option starting at Rs 101. Devotees keen to be part of the festival are being encouraged to book early, since bookings have already begun.
Numbers to call for bookings
Those wishing to book can contact the Vaidik Prachar Sansthan members and the temple priest on mobile numbers 099111 36411, 95826 08535 and 093122 72252. These numbers can be used to get complete details about bookings, shringar and prasad, as well as darshan and puja arrangements, and bookings can be made directly through these contacts. Families can join the festival together and take part in the special puja arrangements on offer.
Preparations already underway
With Ganesh Chaturthi approaching, preparations at the temple are already in full swing, and decoration work has begun as well. Anyone wishing to worship Ganpati Maharaj, visit with family, join the grand procession or arrange a special puja can call the numbers listed above to book a slot in any of the programmes running from September 11 to September 15.
