Our beloved Lord Ganesha has a big party tomorrow. All around the world Hindus are preparing Ganesha murthi, most of which can dissolve in the water and getting ready for big pujas follow by the immersion of the murthi's in the the ocean or rivers nearby. Here are pictures from the Golden Gate Mission Ganesha painting session, which is headed up by Karti Katir every year.

Recently the aadheenam was blessed with a deepy devotional dance performance. Odissi dance is traditionally performed for the Deity in the temple. The lead dancer and teacher, Colleena Shakti, is a masterful and unusually disciplined exemplar of Odissi dance, an art originally from the state of Orissa. She lives most of the year in Rajasthan and performed during last year's Ganesha Chaturthi. This year she brought a group of students with her, who have been on the island for a dance retreat. She danced four numbers, the first to Lord Ganesha, as tradition requires, and the last was called Moksha. The Banyan Mandapam was infused with a deeply spiritual energy during the dances, and a great joy afterwards as Sadasivanathaswami gave her a golden shawl and our last poster of the 108 tandavas of Lord Siva, and told some Gurudeva stories in the bargain.

Beautiful world. Dance! Dance as you like. Be as a child. Do as you please. Siva Yogaswami