strong>Pillaiyar Chathurthi Wishes 
Pillaiyar / Ganesh Chathurthi is an important festival of Hindus. Ganesha Chathurthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesh which is celebrated with fervour and gaiety in all regions of India. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September).The duration of this festival varies from 1 day to 11 days, depending on the place and tradition. As per Hindu mythology Lord Ganesh is considered as “Vigana Harta” (one who removes obstacles) and “Buddhi Pradaayaka” (one who grants intelligence). This festival is very important for students, they worship Lord Ganesh to illumine their minds.
According to Hindu Mythology, Goddess Parvathi created Ganesh from sandalwood paste which she used to bathe and gave life to the figure. In the absence of Lord Shiva, she gave duty of guarding the entrance while she was taking her bath. Lord Shiva who didn’t know about this little boy’s sentry work, he tried to trespass the entrance and this made Ganesha to get into a tiff with Lord Shiva. In this combat Lord Shiva severed the head of the Ganesha. Parvathi who was disheartened by her husband’s act and made enraged. To pacify Parvathy, Lord Shiva promised getting Ganesha back to life by getting a head of first dead body.
Devas headed towards north in search of a head, but encountered with a elephant and with no other optik. They came with elephant’s head. And thats how Lord Ganesh got his head.
Idols of Ganesha, mostly out of clay are bought and kept at home. The day starts with prayers and offering are made.
Sakkarai pongal (sweet Rice porridge), mothagam, kozhukattai are prepared in sweet and spicy version as it is believed that Lord Ganesha is fond of Kozhukattai. Kozhukattai and mothagam are steam cooked stuffed rice balls. The stuffing differs, from coconut, sesame, bengal gram.. One of my favourite dishes too
I thought of drawing an Alpona and by starting a tear drop design as the base design. though I haven’t explored much into Alpona. Its my guesstimate that a tear drop is the base design for an Alpona I am not sure, hope anyone who is an expert can enlighten me. After drawing added some swirl shapes and extended it downwards. I wasn’t sure what I was drawing, went with the flow of the strokes, with no twirling thoughts in my mind, should say the strokes were gliding. Then took a diversion and added a curvy line, should be a twirl, I hope so :-). Didn’t want to leave aloof, paired up with leaves with it and moved downwards to draw a heart shape. I guess that was the turning point of my kolam, which got its shape. In the next step I figured out something hidden in the rangoli, so tried to add some elliptical shapes on either sides of the heart shape. Now I was confident of moving from Alpona to Ganapthy Bappa. Then added the base and gave an effect of the pleats of the garment. I got a second opinion from my friends before uploading, I had just told them its an Alpona and what was their feedback. They said they could view Ganesha and in a modern art genre I too hope so ;-D
