Today is the Ganesh Chaturthi, or Ganesh Festival, here in India. Here is what I have gathered about this special day from talking to locals about it...
Ganesha is one of the many, many Gods worshiped here in India. Legend has it that Ganesh was created by the wife of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was away at war and his wife had no children and no one to protect her. She created Ganesh from Sandalwood and breathed life into him. He stood guard over her in her husband's absence. One day, when Lord Shiva returned from war and entered his house, Ganesh, not knowing who Shiva was, tried to stop him and was beheaded! His wife was devastated and Shiva sent his men out to bring back the head of the first living thing they found with it's face toward the sun. They came first, across an elephant. The elephant head was placed on Genesh's body and life was again breathed into him. They named him Ganesha and he is thought to provide protection to those who worship him. 
For weeks leading up to the holiday, these idols are sold at roadside shops all over the city...
Today, and throughout the celebration period, everyone takes their statues to a local body of water and submerses them!! They leave them floating for days to symbolize their dedication to him. It is thought that this will provide his worshipers with prosperity and protection from calamity. Nearly all public buildings are shut down today and also domestic help are not working. Our driver, Hariesh, is going to take me out tomorrow to photograph the floating statues. And you can be sure one will be on our mantle in Saratoga when we return!
On a side note... this would be one of the days on the calendar here in India that you would have a tough time finding an urgent care center open if, I said if, your son needed to get stitches in his head. Thankfully even in India, hospitals never close! Taylor bopped Andrew over the head with a water shooter in the pool and wham. Poor Pat had just strolled up from his day of golf, not 5 minutes prior. I'll attach a photo as soon as they get back!!
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