Each year, during the months of Aug/Sept, millions throughout the world celebrate Ganesh Festival and in keeping with this hoary tradition, Indians in Alpharetta celebrated the festival last weekend.

According to the Hindu faith, the Ganesh Festival symbolizes Ganesh Birthday and marks the commencement of a series of Hindu festivals. This is the second consecutive year the festival has been organized in a grand manner by Friends of Alpharetta supported by more than twenty volunteers.

From dawn to dusk, devotees thronged into the commodious tent to have a darshan of the 5ft tall Lord Ganesh which was shipped from India. For the religious-minded devotees, the celebration was an occasion to receive the blessings of the Lord and ridding the mind of worldly attachments. A special prayer called "Ganesh Vratam" was performed by Priest Suresh Garu in addition to the regular Archanas (prayers) by Priest Seshu Puranam Garu.

The evening was a treat to the eyes and ears with devotional and movie songs, dances followed by free dinner. A couple of the highlights in this year’s celebration included a Ganesh story recital by Latha Vedurupaka Garu and Telugu-to-English Ganesh Story recital by Syamala Cherukumalli Garu and a grand musical entertainment of Ram Durvasula's SWARALAHRI

“It’s interesting to see different people from all over India came together to celebrate” said Raj Koduru, Festival Coordinator. The head Priest Seshu Puranam Garu said the community really got into the festive spirit and it meant great encouragement for those involved. “We’ve had some really unique and interesting festival and I am sure we will bring in more people next year" added Srinivas Cherukumalli

The festivities were sponsored by the Amma Kitchen Indian Restaurant, A1-Education Services, Sai Murali Indian Restaurant, India Plaza, Spice Hut, Virtue Group, Raja Photography.com and many other liberal-minded individual sponsors.

Special thanks are due to Madhuri Puranam Garu who cooked/organized Prasadam and dinner for the devotees. A word of appreciation is also due to all the volunteers who decorated the tent, supervised vehicle parking, served Prasadam and cleaned the place after the event.

Ganapati Bappa Moriya.