With Ganesh Chaturthi falling on September 14, South Bay families are making their final festival preparations.
At stores across Sunnyvale (GIRI and Swathi’s Indian Market on Apollo Way, Namaste Plaza on Hollenbeck), Ganeshas fill the shelves in many sizes and materials ~ from tiny apartment-friendly murtis to larger clay idols. Nearby Indian groceries offer flowers, coconuts, betel leaves, fruits and ingredients for modaks and kozhakattai.
Families are also trying a more personal alternative: making their own Ganesha. Local clay workshops have invited children and parents to shape eco-friendly idols by hand, turning festival preparation into a lesson in culture and creativity.
When buying an idol, shoppers should ask what it is made from. Natural, unpainted clay is generally the most suitable for a small home immersion. Metal, stone and resin Ganeshas should remain in the home rather than be immersed.
The Sunnyvale Hindu Temple will hold its Ganesh Chaturthi observances on September 14. In homes across the Bay Area, folding tables will become mandapams, apartment kitchens will produce modaks, and grandparents in India may join the puja through video calls.
The surroundings may differ, but the welcome remains familiar: Ganesha always arrives first.
On the go
- GIRI: 1214 Apollo Way, Suite 401, Sunnyvale
- Swathi Indian Market: 1202 Apollo Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94085
- Sunnyvale Hindu Temple: 450 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale
- Check an idol’s material and paint before planning immersion.