Lord Ganesha arrived at the University for one and a half days this year.

Ganesh Chaturthi, a popular annual Indian festival normally celebrated in September, ranges from one and a half days to 21 days.

The celebration revolves around a clay idol that is brought home and worshipped. The festival is celebrated to encourage social gatherings. Ganesha was considered to be lord of knowledge and prosperity.

Idols range from six inches to over 25 feet.  The idol is offered popular sweets made out of coconut and sugar called modaks.

According to Saurabh Bengali, an event organizer and graduate student in computer science, more than 150 students were involved in the event this year.

The immersion of the idol took place in Lake Raleigh on Sept. 12 at 6.30 p.m.

Bengali said the student community came together to authentic the festival.

“It was genuine effort by us to make this festival as authentic as possible, one of the major factors in organizing this festival was to bring student community together in pious environment,” Bengali said.

Bengali is he hopes the festival will be celebrated in the future and tradition will be carried forward by future students.

Ben Matthew, a graduate student in business administration, said it was interesting to see a different community’s worship style.

“It was a different style of worship, nothing close to what I have ever seen, incredible to see so many people worshipping, it was interesting to observe the traditions of a different community,” Matthew said.

According to Matthew, students from different areas near the campus assembled for the celebrations and chanted devotional hymns.

Sagar Khale, a graduate student in business administration, said the event brought a sense of homecoming.

“I felt a sense of Déjà vu and home coming; Graduate students from different departments and housing complexes welcomed the beloved lord with enthusiasm,” Khale said.

According to Khale, the idol was specially flown from India for the event.

“2322 Champion Court resembled a typical Indian temple with flowers and essence sticks. Hats off to those who made it possible,” Khale said.

Prachiti Sakhalkar, event organizer and graduate student in computer science, said the organization got permission from University authorities for the celebrations and procession for immersion.

“Except from getting the idol from India, everything went smoothly, the authorities of N.C. State University were co-operative in giving us permission for procession and immersion,” said Sakhalkar.