"एकदन्तं महाकायं लम्बोदरगजाननम्ं। विध्ननाशकरं देवं हेरम्बं प्रणमाम्यहम्": Maoists tried to destroy Ganesh idol at place that gave him Ekdanta name, but couldn’t stop the divinity as rediscovery created a sensation, became popular destination for pilgrims
Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival commemorating the birth of Lord Ganesh, started today across India. After restricted celebrations in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this year has seen the return to full-fledged celebrations of the holy festival. While most individual households and puja pandals get clay idols of the elephant-headed God for the occasions, temples and many other places worship permanent idols, many of them centuries old. Among those idols of Lord Ganesha, one in Chhattishgarh is really unique, the Dholkal Ganesha of Dantewada.