Indian scientists at the Maitri research station in Antarctica mark Ganesh Chaturthi by creating a Lord Ganesha idol out of snow and holding traditional rituals despite being far from home. Accounts describe the team shaping snow into a festive “Bappa,” decorating it, and gathering for puja and aarti, followed by sharing modaks.
Outlets also report how the team handles the idol’s “visarjan” in a way suited to their environment. Instead of immersing the idol in water as done in many places during the festival, they melt the snow idol in water at the station, presenting it as an eco-friendlier adaptation. An Instagram video shared by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) staffer Anirudh Dhar shows glimpses of the station, the sculpting process, chants during the ritual, and the group’s celebration.
The differing angles focus mainly on the novelty and warmth of the event—some emphasize the distance from India and the viral attention—while all describe the same core elements: a snow-made Ganesha idol, station-based rituals, and a melted-water departure suited to Antarctica’s conditions.
