Papakura Ganesha Temple plans fourteen-day Mahotsavam

Lord Ganesha in all His Crowning Glory at the Papakura Temple
 
Year 2021 will get to an auspicious start with fourteen days of piety and festivities at the Pillayar (Lord Ganesha) Temple in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura, extending the Blessings of the Presiding Deity to all of humanity.

New Zealand is fortunate to have contained the community spread of Coronavirus, which continues to worry people in most parts of the world with governments obliged to lockdown the entire country and economy, with enormous restrictions.

Lord Ganesha, The Remover of All Obstacles, will be the centre of prayers for hundreds of devotees as Chief Priest Parameswaran (Chandru), his Assistant Priest Vasudeva Sarma conduct elaborate Rituals and Poojas, invoking the Blessings of Lord Ganesha. They and the devotees are fortunate to have the cooperation and organisational excellence of the Temple Trustees and scores of volunteers.

Observing health norms

Chandru said that the Annual Festival, called, ‘Mahotsavam 2021′ will commence on Thursday, January 7, 2021 and will witness a host of activities until its conclusion on Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

“Our Trustees are keen that we observe Covid-19 health regulations and follow strict codes of public health and hygiene. We therefore request all our devotees, volunteers and guests to cooperate with us and make the fourteen-day Festival successful, meaningful, achieving the objective of bringing the Blessings of Lord Ganesha,” he said.

The Early Rituals

The ceremonies will commence on Thursday, January 7, 2021 with an Invocative Prayer, and these proceedings will conclude with ‘Ther Thiruvizha’ (‘Ratham Festival) on Saturday,  January 16, 2021. The ‘Kodiyettram Ceremony’ (Flag Hoisting) Ceremony will be held on Friday, January 8, 2020, marking the beginning of the Festival.

Makar Shankaranthi, one of the most important observances in the Hindu Calendar, marking the transit of Sun into Makara Rasi, will be on Thursday, January 14, 2021.

Chandru said that while Mahotsavam refers to a Grand Festival, ‘Ther Thiruvizha’ is a colourful Chariot Festival followed by the ‘Theertha Utsavam.’

“In some Temples, the Utsava Murthy is taken to the Temple Pond and dipped in the water. Devotees then plunge into the water as a symbolic representation of soul-cleansing. At our Papakura Temple, we will use a small poll only to immerse the Deity,” he said.

‘Anna Dhanam’ will be performed at the conclusion of each Morning Session, while Prasadam will be distributed at the conclusion of the Programme each evening.

Pillayarappa being brought in procession at Papakura

The Programme

Editor’s Note: Every care has been taken to compile the following based on the information received. We do not however guarantee that there will not be changes in either timing or items mentioned. Please check with the Temple for updated information or follow their Facebook Page.

January 7, 2021: 9 am: Vigneshwara Pooja, Anugchanai Swasthi Puniyaham; Maha Ganapathi Homan Deeparathanai and Prasadam 530pm: Grama Santhi, Vasthu Santhi and Mirth Sangrahanam

January 8, 2021: Kodi Yettram Thiruvizha: 8 am: Vigneswara Pooja, Ganapathi Homam, Draviya Abhishekam, Sthapana Abhishekam. 9 am: Nithya Pooja and Prasadam. 945 am: Kumba Pooja, Angurarpanam, Raksha Bandhanam, Kodi (Flag) Pada Pooja. 1030 am: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Kokipadaveethi Ula, Beari Thadanam, Kodi Yettram, Nava Shanthi Avahanam, Theruveethi Ula and Prasadam. 545 pm: Mooshika Vahana Alangaram. 545 pm: Maha Yaga Pooja Arambam. 6 pm: Nithya Pooja. 7 pm: Stambha Pooja and Abhishekam, Theruveethi Ula, Andher Bal and Bahir Bali. 730 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja. 830 pm: Yaga Darshanam, Theruveethi Ula and Prasadam.

January 9, 2021: 9 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam. 1015 am: Nithya Pooja. 1045 am: Yaga Pooja, Stambha Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Deeparathanai, Thiru Vizha, Anna Dhanam. 545 pm: Yaga Pooja. 6 pm: Nithya Pooja. 630 pm: Stambha Pooja. 730 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja. 830 pm: Yaga Darshanam, Theruveethi Ula and Prasadam

January 10, 2021: 9 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam. 1015 am: Nithya Pooja. 1045 pm: Yoga Pooja, Stambha Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Deeparathanai, Morning Thiruvizha. 545 pm: Mampazha Thiruvizha (Mango Festival) 545 pm: Yaga Pooja. 6 pm: Nithya Pooja. 630 pm: Yaga Pooja. 7 pm: Stambha Pooja. 8 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Yaga Darshanam, Mampazha Thiruvizha, Theruveethi Ula and Prasadam

Pillayarappa being brought in procession at Papakura

January 14, 2021: Thai Pongal- Makara Shankaranthi: 830 am: Pongal prepared in front of Lord Ganesha using firewood. 9 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam. 1015 am: Nithya Pooja. 1045 am: Yaga Pooja, Stambha Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Deeparathanai, Morning Thiruvizha. 1 pm: Suryanarayana Pooja for Pongal. 545 pm: Yaga Pooja. 6 pm: Nitya Pooja 630.pm: Stambha Pooja. 7 pm: Vettai Thiruvizha (Hunting Festival)- Lord Ganesha, seated on a horse, symbolising the subduing the lower senses of greed, ego, anger and jealousy in people 830 pm: Prayachitham Abhishekam for Utsava Murthi. 9 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Yoga Darshanam, Evening Thiruvizha and Prasadam

January 15, 2021: 9 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam. 1015 am: Nithya Pooja. 1045 am: Yoga Pooja, Stambha Pooja, Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Deeparathanai, Morning Thiruvizha. 545 pm: Yaga Pooja 6 pm: Nithya Pooja. 630 pm: Stambha Pooja. 730 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja. 815 pm: Yaga Darshanam (Sapara Thiruvizha)

January 16, 2021:Theradi Thiruvizha: 730 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam 9 am: Nithya Pooja. 930 am: Stambha Pooja. 10 am: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Deeparathanai, Upacharam, Yaga Darshan. 130 pm: Pachaichathal and Ratha Avarohanam. 530 pm: Prayachitham Abhishekam. 630 pm: Nithya Pooja. 645 pm: Yaga Pooja. 7 pm: Stambha Pooja. 8 pm: Vasantha Mandapa Pooja, Yaga Darshanam, Theradi Thiruvizha

January 17, 2021: Tirtha Thiruvizha: 9 am: Navakalasa Abhishekam. 1015 am: Nithya Pooja. 1045 am: Tirtha Vari, Maha Poornathuthi, Maha Yaga Kumbham Abhishekam. 5 pm: Nithya Pooja 530 pm: Unchal Thiruvizha. 630 pm: Dwaja Avarohanam. 730 pm: Sandhi Visarjanam and Prasadam

January 18, 2021: 10 am: Vigneswara Pooja and 108 Shanga Abhishekam. 1145 am: Nithya Pooja. 6 pm: Poongavanam (Ananda Sayanam Alangaram), Nithya Pooja, Maha Deeparathanai at a specially decorated Garden. 715 pm: Special Cultural Programme

January 19, 2021: Vairavar Pooja and Vairavar Madai: 630 pm: Vigneswara Pooja, Eka Kalasa Pooja. 650 pm: Draviya Abhishekam. 730 pm: Nithya Pooja; 9 pm: Special Pooja. Devotees bless their housekeys and receive Vairavar Noor (Thread)

January 20, 2021: Prayachitham Abhishekam

For latest information and further details, please contact the Temple or visit http://www.aucklandsriganeshtemple.com/

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