Nagpur: Spiritual fervour reached new heights at Nagpur’s historic Tekdi Ganesh Mandir on Sunday as Shyam, the 16-year-old tusker revered as a living embodiment of Lord Ganesh, made a grand entry. The majestic elephant, brought all the way from Ujjain, turned the temple premises into a scene of divine celebration, drawing throngs of devotees eager for his darshan.
Transported in a specially arranged truck from the Shiv Shambhu Ganeshotsav Mandal at Prasad Nagar, Shyam arrived around 11 am. His presence electrified the atmosphere, with chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya!” echoing through the temple corridors as he majestically walked inside.
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The highlight came during the 12:30 pm aarti, when Shyam stood inside the sanctum. In a rare and moving moment, priests first worshipped Lord Ganesh, followed by the tusker’s own aarti. Shyam, adorned with garlands, then offered one to the idol of Bappa himself, a gesture that left devotees in awe.
“Shyam’s presence added a spiritual charm to the rituals,” said Sumant Kurekar, head of Shiv Shambhu Ganeshotsav Mandal, who accompanied him. “It was not just a visit, but a divine experience.”
Blessings from the jumbo devotee
After the rituals, Shyam blessed priests, police officials, and hundreds of devotees by gently placing his trunk on their heads. For nearly two hours, long queues formed for the special darshan, as people sought blessings from the tusker who is a familiar figure at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.
Vedant Gotmare, another office-bearer of the mandal, said, “This was a joint decision of the temple trust and our mandal. We felt it would be truly memorable, and it turned out to be so.”
Though his official name is Vijaylakshmi, he is affectionately called Shyam across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and beyond. Known for his diet of nearly 300 kg of sugarcane, fruits, and grass daily, his caretakers ensured he was well fed even during the temple outing.
This wasn’t Shyam’s first brush with Nagpur’s devotion, earlier in the week, he was welcomed with great pomp at Jaripatka. But his appearance at Tekdi Ganesh Mandir, one of Nagpur’s most iconic shrines, carried a deeper spiritual resonance, making it a truly unforgettable Ganeshotsav moment for the city.
