Ganesh puja on the net
By: A Chalomumbai.com Correspondent

Busy schedules are as easy as they come. We all have hectic timetables. Taking the concept of 'work is worship' one step further is mantraonnet.com. The virtual puja of Lord Ganesha (and other deities), that their site offers, has helped many a workaholic catch up with his/her spiritual side.

This feature, started in March 2000, is a popular destination for peace-seekers from all around the world. It is exclusively for the members of the mantraonnet Club. It is available in a downloadable form for the life time members and membership is free! The membership entitles you to special features like additional mantras/ aartis/ bhajans, etc. Also there are exclusive picture galleries, wallpapers and Lord Ganesha screen savers, not repeated anywhere else on the site.

"The concept of virtual puja is a step towards increasing the interactivity and reach of the World Wide Web", says Rohit Jaitley, CIO, mantraonnet.com The virtual puja is created using state-of-the-art technologies from Macromedia Flash 4.0 and Lord Ganesha has been selected as he is considered the Lord of the Lords. You can perform the following rituals on mantraonnet.com:
  1. Offer flowers
  2. Apply tilak
  3. Rotate the puja thali
  4. Ring the bell
  5. Offer the incense sticks, in any order you like.

You can also experience background music, added for more realistic effect. You have control over zoom in, rewind and other functions, too.

We also found comments from people who've done the virtual puja. Here's what they had to say.

Shivani Sharma, a Mumbai housewife, says, "This is one of the bait which inticed me into becoming a member of this site. It really gives me peace of mind and the solace one misses in today's haphazard life as also many other things in the member section, but the Pick of the Lot is surely the Virtual Pooja. I have downloaded it on my P.C. at my residence. I make it a point to pray to Lord Ganesha in this net friendly manner."

Puneet Ghakkar, a businessman from Dubai feels," I pray to Lord Ganesha in this techy way in today's wired world with utmost ease and with absolute comfort of my office. I have prayed to Him at the time of board meetings and critical phases, with coming out triumphantly with the blessings of Lord Ganesha. It's a most unique product across the religious sites and touches the heart immediately, hope they can extend it to the whole Hindu spectrum."

Pashminu Mansukhani, a software developer from Bangalore asserts. "It is an interesting feature and technically perfect and easy to use and download. This is really bringing the temple in my drawing room. As I am a software developer, I find it extremely difficult to visit temples, but now I do not feel guilty about it as my favorite God is there literally at the click of the mouse."

Now you see, there's much more than meets the eye. There are people who do this for a living. Busy as you are, you might as well visit the eTemple.


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