COUVA South’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations drew crowds of devotees to the Couva South Multi-Purpose Hall yesterday afternoon, to partake in prayer, chanting and to observe the towering 12-foot Ganesh murti brought in from India for the event.

Member of Parliament Barry Padarath hosted the event which was officiated by pundit Avinash Maharaj and attended by Indian High Commissioner Dr Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, and Minister of Agriculture Ravi Ratiram, among others.

Padarath partook in Ganesh Puja alongside Rajpurohit, during what he said is traditionally called the ‘maticoor’ where collected dirt is placed at the feet of the devotional image of the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, wisdom and remover of obstacles.