Children participate in a celebration. A most prominent festival in the Hindu tradition was the weekend of September 3-4 in Aurora. Thousands of Indian Americans from Aurora, and the western suburbs, gathered in the State’s second-largest city to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, which honors the birth of Lord Ganesh, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and his prominence as the Remover of Obstacles and Lord of New Beginnings. It is believed that devotees who pray to Ganesh can fulfill their wishes and desires. The festival host was non-profit, Fox Valley Ganesh Utsav Samithi, which began seven years ago with just a handful celebrating privately. This year is significant for the removal of obstacles because it is the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. Indian Americans are one of the fastest-growing communities in Aurora.City of Aurora government photo
