Thursday, September 13, 2018.   6:30pm-7:30pm.   Historical Society of Cheshire County.

Celebrating Ganesh, the elephant-headed God in the Monadnock Region

Historical Society of Cheshire County

  For almost 50 years, the Monadnock Region has been home to a shrine honoring Ganesh, the Hindu lord with an elephant head.  In 2017, the property in around the white quartz shrine in Chesterfield was placed in conservation thanks to the generosity of property-owner Pat Haley with help of the Monadnock Conservancy.  The public is invited to discover the history of the shrine with guest speakers Pat Haley and James Rousmaniere who will describe how the shrine came to be built. Learn about the Conservancy’s current plans to preserve the land with stewardship manager Rebecca DiGirolomo. 

September 13, 2018, is also Ganesh Chathurthi, the festival for many Hindus to celebrate the famous elephant god who is broadly known for helping overcome obstacles.  Ritu and Vikas Budakoti of the Keene India Association will introduce the history of the holiday and describe India’s current effort to restructure it as an eco-friendly event.    A troupe of teenage classical Indian dancers will perform a dance in honor of Ganesh Chathurthi.

painting by Dorinda Jarest circa 1973