Hello! My partner and kids and I have been snorkeling at La Perouse near Sydney. We clean up underwater trash there to help preserve the beauty and health of the ecosystem. The most frequent and destructive trash is fishing line, hooks, and lead weights. However, we also found a location under the bridge to Bare Island where it appears that people have been performing some sort of offering ritual that involves dropping items into the water.
I’m so intrigued, and I would like to know more about this ritual. The large statue on the right is Ganesh, I believe. There is a smaller Ganesh attached to the orange bowl, along with a female figure. The bowls are terra-cotta and are circular but with a spout for pouring; some of them are painted in bright colours; some of the painted bowls have mirrors glued on.
I also found two bracelets made of beads (one of which I lost again; underwater cleanup is difficult). I don’t know if they are part of the ritual, or just another thing that was lost or thrown in.
What can you tell me about this ritual? Is it part of Hinduism? What did the bowls contain when they were dropped in? What would be the most respectful thing to do with these items?
Given the importance of the marine ecosystem to my family, we don’t want to leave the items there, as the paint is potentially leaching heavy metals into the water. However, I am pleased to see that people from different cultures also find the area to be wonderful enough to be performing their own sacred rituals, and I am happy to help with the underwater tidying-up.
Thank you for your insight!