'vakratunDa mahAkAya ; kOTi soorya samaprabha
avighnam kurumE dEva ; sarva kAryEshu sarvadA'

After a very successful Sri Sathyanarayana vratham Pooja marking the inauguration of the Austin Hindu Temple and Community Center Project, the Austin HinduTemple (AHT) committee organized  Sri Maha GaNapathi hOmam in Austin .

To Complete a work or ritual without any obstacles, it is customary to pray to Lord Maha Ganapathi by performing the Pooja and Homam at the start. The Maha Ganapathi Homam is performed by using special ingredients like Sugarcane pieces, sweet Modakams, Holy grass (Bermuda grass), Rice flakes(Aval), Ghee, Havan samagri, Dry fruits, Sesame seeds, Cardamom, Clove, Nutmeg Powder and Mahahavis.

Date & time Pooja performed:
28 April 2002, 09:30 to 1:30 hrs
Venue: Murchison Middle School Cafeteria, 3700 North Hills Dr. Austin, Texas 78731.

Pooja started a few minutes behind schedule and went on up to 1:30pm. Sriman Nagaraja Sharma, priest of the Hindu Temple of San Antonio, performed the Vratam/Pooja. This Pooja also included few stage performances by noted as well as budding artists and singers as young as 3 years old. Stage Decoration was Sponsored by Taj Grocers of Austin.   Prashad was served at 1:30pm. More Pictures of GaNapati Homam can be found here.