Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Record-Sized Idols and Political Participation Across India
· India · The Hindu, Zee News
Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on **September 14, 2026**, with grand displays across India, including a **117-foot-tall idol** adorned with one crore glass bangles in Visakhapatnam’s Gajuwaka. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s likeness was featured in three Lord Vinayagar idols installed by TVK cadres in Chennai’s RK Nagar. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of Madhya Pradesh carried a Ganesh idol for installation at his Bhopal residence, while devotees in Srinagar prayed at the Shri Sidhi Vinayak Ganesh Mandir. A **one-crore-rudraksh idol** was unveiled in Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road, and a dancing pose Ganesh idol was displayed at Chinna Waltair. Devotees in Telipara, Dhanbad, also participated in local pandal celebrations.
Why it matters
The festival’s scale reflects India’s deep-rooted cultural and political engagement, with state leaders and local communities actively participating in idol installations and public prayers. Devotees and artists across states like Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir derive spiritual and communal fulfillment, while the grandeur of idols like the 117-foot-tall one in Visakhapatnam draws tourism and public interest, boosting local economies.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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