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Stunning Images Of Ganesh Chaturthi 2016 Celebrations In India

'Ganpati Bappa Morya!'
Devotees carry an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha to worship it on occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The idol will be immersed in water bodies after worship at the end of the festival. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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Devotees carry an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha to worship it on occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The idol will be immersed in water bodies after worship at the end of the festival. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

The Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is a celebration of the elephant-headed god, and devotees pray to him to get his blessings for their new ventures. Clay idols of Lord Ganesha are worshipped, and the celebration traditionally goes on for 10 days, at the end of which the idols are immersed in a body of water. Though it is celebrated across India, it is most popular in parts of western and southern India.

Take a look at some of the stunning images of this year's celebration, which began on Monday.

Ajay Verma / Reuters
An artisan makes an idol of Hindu god Ganesh at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations, in Chandigarh, India, August 16, 2016.
Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters
An artisan makes an idol of Hindu god Ganesh at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations, in Kolkata, India, August 29, 2016.
Ajay Verma / Reuters
An artisan rests next to the idols of Hindu god Ganesh at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations, in Chandigarh, India, August 16, 2016.
Amit Dave / Reuters
An artisan paints an idol of Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations, in Ahmedabad, India, August 29, 2016.
Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters
An artisan paints an idol of Hindu god Ganesh at a workshop ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations, in Kolkata, India, August 19, 2016.
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An Indian artist provides final touches to an idol of the elephant headed Hindu god Ganesha before it is carried off for worship to mark Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The idol will be immersed in water bodies after worship at the end of the festival.
Amit Dave / Reuters
An idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, is transported to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmedabad, India, September 5, 2016.
Abhishek Chinnappa / Reuters
Workers transport an idol of Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, on a cart ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, in Bengaluru, India August 30, 2016.
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Idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha are displayed for sale at a roadside during Ganesh Chaturthi festival in New Delhi, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. Idols of the god are purchased and brought home, where they are worshipped. After a few days â every family has its own tradition â the idols are carried to a large body of water and ceremonially immersed. The festival started Monday.
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
A devotee carries an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, September 5, 2016.
Amit Dave / Reuters
Devotees play drums as they transport an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmedabad, India, September 5, 2016.
Amit Dave / Reuters
An idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, is loaded onto a supply truck on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmedabad, India, September 5, 2016.
Amit Dave / Reuters
An idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, is transported to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmedabad, India, September 5, 2016.
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
A devotee carries an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, September 5, 2016.
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
Idols of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, are transported to places of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, September 5, 2016.
Danish Siddiqui / Reuters
Idols of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, are carried on handcarts to a place of worship on the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, September 5, 2016.
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Devotees carry an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha for worship during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Mumbai, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The idols will be immersed in water bodies after worship at the end of the festival.
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Worshippers carry the idols of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha before handing over to volunteers for immersion in a pond during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Bangalore, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
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A volunteer carries a clay made idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha for immersion in a pond during Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrations in Bangalore, India, Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.