More than 1,200 people gathered from Laxmi Narayan Temple, Sai Temple and 2 mandalis from Nasinu to celebrate the last day of the Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi at My Suva Park today.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival where Hindus pray to Lord Ganesh for 1 to 10 days at home or in the temple and on the 11th day of the festival, the idols that were created to worship are taken to a river or seaside in a colorful and musical procession where people gather and sing folk songs.

The main priest of Laxmi Narayan Temple, Jayendra Kumar Shastri says since half of the population in the mandali are children, the main objective of celebrating this occasion is to attract the younger generation to devote themselves in religious activities and avoid engaging in unwanted activities such as drug dealings and rape.

Shastri says that Ganesh pooja is conducted to keep families united to maintain peace and take the country forward.

Laxmi Narayan Temple is celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi since 1983 when the temple was constructed and from the past 4 to 5 years it is celebrated in a big way in places such as Suva, Lautoka, Labasa and Savusavu.

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