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Next year PGF s
Thank You Dear Devotees for
making 19th Year Celebration of
PGF 2023 a Grand Success ! We served MahaPrasad to~1600 devotees today and to ~10,000 over 11-days of festivities!
We are still accepting Donations to bridge the gap in Wargani because of Heavy Rain cause whashed out IndiaFest over past weekend. Donate Generously at the link provided here -->>
Our 20th Yr PGF
Sept 6-16, 2024\
Please mark the calendars
Dear Friends, Volunteers and Leaders,
Namaste. Ganapati Bappa Moraya!
Addendum: We are inviting Ycomm overall co-lead Shri Mihir Vedanti as well for the felicitation today with the lead Ms Sneha Indrakanthi. Thanks to our mentors for pointing out a gap that we have not 1, but 2 overall leads for the youth committee ! Bappa Moraya !!
We are going to celebrate the last day of PGF 2023, today evening (9/28/2023), with the Uttar Puja of Lord Ganesha, Felicitation of the Core team, Priests and Visarjan (Immersion) Procession, starting from 4:30pm. The Sunset is going to be at 6:48pm. So, before it gets darker outside, we would like to start the processions right at 5:30pm so our children can dance saying goodbye to Ganesha in bright daylight.
You are therefore cordially invited to perform the Aarti for Lord Ganesha and join the Immersion Procession with full enthusiasm. Mahaprasad will be served at the end of the procession. Traditional Visarjan service will be at 7:30pm, in a private pond of PMI engineering.
In this email, we are inviting 4 members of PGF core team along with their respective families, to receive a felication from the Festival, as representatives of all volunteers. These wonderful core team leaders are, Shri Vikrant Kamble, Shri Chandramouli Raghuram, Shri Jayessh Parmar and Shri Adwait Palsule. From this year, we will be felicitating a YCOMM Core Leader as well and therefore extending an invite to Ms. Sneha Indrakanthi, with her family and Sri Mihir Vedanti with his family, to receive felicitation as representatives of all youth volunteers, who are doing a great amount of heavy lifting of PGF work these days.
We are also inviting Bharatiya Temple's 4 learned priests with their families, Shri Vishnu ji, Shri Nikul Ji, Shri Sesashayee Ji and Sri Umasankar Ji, to receive felicitation for raising the spiritual levels of the festival for the benefit of all devotees. We are also inviting Temple's Sthapati Sri Ragavan Ji also for receiving felicitation for his services for the festival.
As an outstanding volunteer of the year, we are inviting youth committee member Sri. Surya Bathini to receive felicitation as a mark of our appreciation for setting an example for youth on dedication, innovation and hard work.
Looking forward to welcoming you all during the last day of festivities today evening starting from 4:30pm ! Ganapati Bappa Moraya !!
Sincerely at HIS service,
Mukund Kute - Festival Chair
Nand Todi - Temple Founder President
Dear Ganesh Devotees.
Namaskar !
There are multiple opportunities to offer your sewa at HIS feet, and a few such opportunities are mentioned below.
PGF is pleased to start a new dance competition (Ganarang ) that provides competitive opportunities to showcase your best talent, win trophies based on judging combined with neutral judge and audience poll. There are 2 dance forms: 1. Indian Classical Dance form 2. Folk & popular dance form
3 Age Categories: Bala Gana (Age 5 to 11), Kishor Gana (Age 12-18), Tarun Gana (Age 19 and above)
Ganarang Guidance Info: https://www.philadelphiaganeshfestival.org/ganarangguidelines
Signup: Ganarang Singup form
Ganarang Volunteer Open Positions: Apply by email to pgfganrang@gmail.com
Volunteer Driver HELP WANTED for Parking Shuttle:
We need Volunteers to drive 12-passenger and 15-passenger vans. The 2- hour slots for driver volunteer Sewa, are generally between 6 pm to 10 pm on weekdays and from 11 am -11 pm on weekends. We will provide some training, and all volunteer drivers will be covered under Temple Insurance. please fill out the form using the link - Volunteer Shuttle Driver Signup
PGF 2023 Volunteer Signup
Please sign up to volunteer in committees of your interest using the link - General Volunteer Signup
Participate in Ganesh Procession
Children from Balvihars, Indian Classical Dance Schools, Youth groups from Indian Cultural Associations from neighboring schools, College students and young adults are invited to participate and perform dances on Ganesh Aagaman (Arrival) and Visarjan (Immersion) Procession events, slated to run on Sept and Sept 18 and 28th respectively. Please sign-up for Procession dances using the online form - Procession Signup form
Deadline is August 31, 2023. Note - These spots fill very quickly.
Sponsor and participation in key Religious events:
As part of the Religious Events, we would request all devotees to participate in the auspicious poojas that are conducted once in a year during the 10 days of the Ganesh Festival. Please sign up your interest for sponsorship using the online form - Religious Puja Sponsorship Link
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Gauri Pooja - 20 Sep 2023, 21 Sep 2023, 22 Sep 2023 (Starting 5:00 pm)
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Ganesha Maha Abhishekam - 23 Sep 2023 at 9:00 am
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Ganesha Pooja by Children - 23 Sep 2023 at 3:00 pm (FREE)
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Ganesha Vivah/Kalyanam - 24 Sep 2023 at 9:30 am
Perform Sangeet Sewa, Nritya Sewa in Deity Hall:
Interested students can send email to pgf.sangeetsewa@gmail.com by Aug 31, 2023
Join the PGF Youth Committee (YCOMM) & Join us for the YCOMM Fun Day:
Our Annual PGF YCOMM Fun Day will be on Saturday 26th August from 4pm onwards at the Spring Valley Park [https://goo.gl/maps/ypTNhnrArYLDMg1dA].
Please enroll in the YCOMM team and join an exuberant group of kids of all ages. YCOMM Volunteer sign-up link YCOMM Volunteer Signup
Host and Hospitality (H&H) Committee:
We are looking for families who can host artists, help in transportation to and from the airport as per their schedule, and help on actual performance day. Being a Hos for the artists, is a unique experience ! Please send your interest to support the H & H committee at PGFHostAndHospitality@gmail.com
Please look forward to more information thru future Bharatiya Temple (BTI) emails and updates on Bharatiya Temple website (b-temple.org) or Festival Website, www.PhiladelphiaGaneshFestival.org about Festival Programs, Parking Information, Volunteer Task Sign-up, Health Precautions etc. Looking forward to welcoming you and serving you!
Ganapati Bappa Moraya ! Mangal Murti Moraya !!
Sincerely In service to Lord Ganesha,
Philadelphia Ganesh Festival 2023 Core Team
Adwait Palsule, Chandramouli Raghuram, Jayessh Parmar and Vikrant B. Kamble
Why is Philadelphia Starting Ganesh Utsav on 18th and NOT 19th?
Answer: PGF follows the US based Panchangam for Philadelphia City. The decision is based on sastras like Nirnay Sindhu or Dharma Sindhu and DrikGanita, the Sun & Moon rise/setting times in Philadelphia. As per Philly Panchangam, the 4th Chaturthi Tithi is witnessing the required Madhyanha Kaalam Muhurtam on Sept 18th. We are therefore starting the celebration on Sept 18th.
