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Khairatabad Ganesh, a saga of communal harmony Hyderabad, August 22 (HSN): The tradition of performing Vinayaka Chavithi at community levels were initiated during pre-independence period by Bala Gangadhar Tilak, one of the big names among national leaders of freedom struggle. The basic thought behind the public celebration was to unite the Indians who were fighting to free Mother India from the slavery shackles, at personal levels.
By the turn of decades, the system caught up well with the people, took a quantum shape, and entwined with the annual calendar routine. Among the Southern states of the country, Andhra Pradesh took lead over others both in the terms of quantitative and qualitative aspects. Especially Hyderabad and Secunderabad in the state had been remarkably celebrating the festival.
A fine jewel in the crown brings more value and attraction to the crown itself in which it was embedded. Similarly, Khairathabad in Hyderabad made the twin cities proud. Of the Ganesh Pandals set up in the twin cities, Khairathabad Ganesh is having a revered saga.
Singari Shanker, a freedom fighter started lord Ganesh’s worship at Khairathabad Library building, the library building was also said to be constructed by Shanker, way back in 1954. The organisers made one foot high Lord Ganesh idol for worship in that year. The local people performed Ganesh Chathurthi at the Library building premises itself.
It was the beginning. One should believe, as the records say. The total expenditure for eleven days festive celebration and poor feeding cost organisers just a meagre sum of Rs 250. (Those days Rs 250 should definitely be a high cost). Even this sum was voluntary contributed by the local residents of Khairatabad. The tradition and culture of Khairatabad took into its stride to perform Vinayaka Pooja at the Library building annually, since then. Not only the festivity of the celebration grew in magnitude but also the height of the idol worshipped.
As high as 45 feet idol was made in 1996 and it is the highest of the idols made in the world to perform an eleven-day Pooja. In the current 2001 year, the height of the idol stood at 40 feet. The deity is designed to have sat in a chariot to which five lions were attached. To the right of the Ganesha stood Lord Venkateshwara of Seven Hills and on the left Sai Baba of Shirdi, to bless the devotees.
The normal practice of any Ganesh Pandal organisers would be to purchase a readily available statue and place it in the Pandal for worship. But, Khairatabad Pandal is strictly following the tradition structured by the initiator Singari Shanker. Every year the statuette will be designed and prepared at the Library building itself. The devotion and dedication of the localites to the Lord, according to the local people, was so strong that they never hired any structural engineer’s service for any of the works.
The tradition that took off with an expenditure of Rs 250 for the whole eleven day long celebration is now on the shoot up of spending over Rs eight lakh for the statue itself. After the demise of Singari Shanker, the festive tradition is carried on under the aegis of his brother Singari Sudershan.
A special mention is to be made here about the merriment. Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the twin cities are given a label as ‘Mini India’ for the diversified religious inhabitants. The title of Mini India is kept live in the Ganesh festivals of Khairatabad. Frame work for the deity will be prepared by the Muslim brethren, plaster of Paris structure will be made by members of many communities and finishing colour touches will be done by Christian friends. The communal harmony being maintained here at Khairathabad is to be appreciated and learnt from by the chauvinistic elements.
May the God of Hurdles (Vighnesh) bless them, so that they hand over the tradition to the generations to come with the same honey culture of maintaining the communal harmony.
- S.V.L.NARASIMHA SWAMY
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