Devotees offer 'virtual' prayers to Ganesha

Simple technology like web-cam connect families

PTI | September 22, 2010



Pune-based Vipula Vernekar never thought that she would make it for Ganesh Chaturthi at her maternal home at Anjuna in Goa, this time around.

But she did, without stepping out of her home. Thanks to e-technology.

Vipula's mother Shubha Nagvenkar had both her daughters-- married in Pune and America-- participating in the 'Aarti'.

While the main 'Aarti' was performed at their ancestral home in Anjuna, the families of both her daughter joined her through webcam adding to the prayer chorus.

"I could not imagine that such thing was possible atleast in my life. I could not believe that my daughters from America and Pune joined me for Aarti," Shubha, 75-year-old mother of five, told PTI from her home at Anjuna.

"We had heard on radio during my younger days that Americans had a phone with which you can see the face of a person who speaks to you on the other line. Years down the line, its happening to us in Goa. Its really nice," she said.

Vipula, who is a housewife said she wanted to visit her maternal home for Ganesh Chaturthi this year.

"I could not make it physically due to other pre-occupations but I am happy that I was the part of celebration and could see it through webcam," she said.

On the other hand, Offering prayers to Ganesha at her maternal home would have meant traversing 'seven seas' for Shubha's eldest daughter, Madhavi Lotlikar.

But it was the webcam technology again to her rescue, when she joined her family back in Goa 'virtually' for aarti from her home in New York.

"Everything is getting digitalized. This is devotion digitalized," commented Madhavi.

The ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival began in Goa on September 11. The festival is state's biggest celebration with the elephant-headed God being worshipped in all Hindu households.
 

Comments

 

Other News

The Constitution cannot be altered: Justice Abhay Oka

Justice Abhay Oka, who retired from the Supreme Court in May 2025, has said that the Constitution of India cannot be altered. Explaining the landmark Kesavananda Bharati judgment (1973) on the basic structure of the Constitution, he said, “This is one judgment that has saved democracy in India.&rdq

How the flora and fauna evolved in the Indian subcontinent

Mammals of India  By A.J.T. Johnsingh and P.O. Nameer HarperCollins India in association with Bombay Natural History Society  

India`s renewable race is moving beyond megawatts

When Shell bought Sprng Energy in 2022, India`s renewable energy market appeared to offer precisely what global energy majors were seeking: scale, growth and a place in one of the world`s largest energy transitions. Four years later, Shell is selling the same business to Aditya Birla Group for an enterpris

Nepal Floods: India keeps close watch on the situation

India`s central government has been keeping a close watch on the situation arising out of the flash flood in Nepal on Wednesday. Union home minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the two states that share the border with Nepal, regarding the disaster

UPI completes 10 years of digital payments revolution

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched on August 25, 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has completed 10 years of transforming digital payments in India. UPI has emerged as the backbone of India’s digi

Here’s an I.D.E.A. for career growth and success

Success in today’s professional organisation is no longer solely determined by academic qualifications, technical expertise or years of experience. While these attributes do matter, organisations increasingly value individuals who demonstrate the right mindset and behavioural qualities. The ability

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter