In the former French quarter of Puducherry, close to the seafront, stands the Manakula Vinayagar temple, a much-loved shrine of Lord Ganesha said to have stood here for centuries, since before the French came to the shore. Tradition holds that the Lord was worshipped beside the sea (kulam) of sand, from which the temple takes its name, and beloved legend tells of the image resisting every attempt to remove it, returning always to its place until it was left in peace and honoured.
The temple is famed for its golden-domed sanctum, its temple elephant who blesses devotees, and the murals within depicting many forms of Ganesha. A serene and cherished landmark of Puducherry, Manakula Vinayagar draws devotees and visitors from across the region, especially at Ganesh Chaturthi.
