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Ganesha - a very popular deity in the Indian sub-continent, assumes different forms and different names for different worshippers.

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This divine form with an elephant head sitting benignly on a rotund, pot bellied human body with four arms is a picture of kindness and prosperity in itself. This endearing personality of the deity has inspired many an artist. The essence of his omnipresence is highlighted in the fact that though the personality of Ganesha is a complicated combination of human and elephantine bodies, the outline of this complex form is very simple and thus all pervading.

The tour

The different perceptions of the image of Lord Ganesha can be found at eight places in Maharashtra. These eight shrines of Lord Ganesha, each depicting a different image and called 'Ashtavinayak' (eight vinayakas) are the most sacred destination for all Ganesh devotees. All these eight temples are ancient structures with interesting legends behind their construction or the image of Lord Ganesha, installed there.

This Ganesh Chaturthi lets explore the tourist circuit formed by the holy shrines, located in and around Pune (Poona), located at Pali, Mahad, Theur, Morgaon, Siddhtek, Ranjangaon, Ozhar and Lenyadri villages.

These shrines are easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune, and a trip to all the eight shrines takes at least 3 days, including visits to the interesting historic sites near some of the shrines.