Ganesh Chaturthi in India

What is Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival largely celebrated for ten days in different parts of India. The day is known as 'Vinayaka Chaturthi' or 'Vinayaka Chavithi' and celebrates the birth of one of the most popular deities, the elephant-headed Hindu God, Lord Ganesha. Moreover, Lord Ganesha has 108 different names, like Vinayaka and Gajanana.

The celebration lasts up to ten days in the Hindu month of Bhadra, which falls between mid-August and mid-September. On this day, people carry a statue of Lord Ganesha on their shoulders to the local rivers. This festival is predominantly celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Ganesh Chaturthi - All Quick Overview

• Category: Religious
• Where It’s Marked: India
• Why It’s Marked: The day marks the birth of the elephant-headed Hindu God called Ganesha.

History Of Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is an optional holiday in India. People can take the day off or work, whichever they prefer. Usually, most businesses and stores are open on this day.

There are many different stories regarding the origin of Lord Ganesh, but two origin stories are the most common. According to Hindu history, Lord Ganesha is the younger son of Parvati and Lord Shiva. His elder brother is Kartikeya, who is an ancient Hindu God.

The most popular and common story

Parvati created Ganesha with dirt to protect her in the absence of Lord Shiva. She gave Ganesha the task of guarding the bathroom door while taking a bath. At this time, Lord Shiva returned home and was stopped by Ganesha because he didn’t know who Lord Shiva was. He was not letting Lord Shiva enter the room as Parvati told him not to.

Lord Shiva got angered by this act and severed the head of Ganesha over a quarrel between the two. Parvati was heartbroken and enraged by Shiva’s deed. After calming down, Lord Shiva understood his mistake and promised Parvati that he would rectify his deed by giving life to Ganesha.

Then, the devas searched for a child’s head facing north, but they could only find a baby elephant’s head. As other conditions had to be fulfilled within a time limit, Lord Shiva decided to use the baby elephant’s head, and thus, Shiva brought Ganesha to life.

The second common story

The greater heavenly entities or the devas requested Lord Shiva and Parvati to create someone to block the path of the demonic entities. Then, they both consciously decided to create Ganesha to help the devas.

It is still unclear when the first Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated, but it is thought that the festival was publicly celebrated in the era of King Shivaji in the 1600s in Pune. It is also known that in the 18th century, the Peshwa, who were great devotees of Ganesh, celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune during the month of Bhadra.

How to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi

According to the Hindu religion, Hindus believe that Lord Ganesha can fulfill their wishes, remove all their sins, and guide them to the path of knowledge and wisdom.

Local communities of central and western states of Maharastra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, and Rajasthan, and the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and eastern states of West Bengal and Odisha and northeastern states of Assam celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi primarily at homes and public places.

Four main rituals occur throughout the ten-day festival— Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan. Even before the festival starts, clay artists start to prepare Ganesha idols in different sizes and poses. People place these idols in decorated ‘pandal’ or stages at temples, homes, and localities.

Later, the devotees welcome the Ganesha by decorating with colorful flowers and garlands. Pranapratishhtha is the ritual of giving life to the deity by a priest, chanting religious sayings or ‘mantra,’ which is performed afterward.

After the first ritual, Shhodashopachara takes place, where people offer prayers to Lord Ganesha in sixteen different ways. It is the most festive part of the festival. People gather around with family and friends to sing and dance to the beats of the drums. You will also notice fireworks often, which can make the festival special.

The following ritual, Uttarpuja, is for bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha. People offer their prayers and offerings, such as Modak, Poli, Karanji, and Pooran, all of Lord Ganesha’s favorite food. They even prepare these items for family and friends to enjoy as ‘prasad.’

The last ritual is the Ganpati Visarjan. People carry the deity’s statue on their shoulders to the nearby sea or river to immerse it while chanting, 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya,' which means 'Goodbye Lord, please come back next year.

However, people are more aware of the environmental stress it creates. Now, they try to make the festival as environmentally friendly as possible by making statues out of natural clay, using only natural elements for decorations, and even immersing the statues in large buckets full of water instead of the sea.

Countries that Observe Ganesh Chaturthi

Every year, India celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi greatly.

Interesting Facts about Ganesh Chaturthi

For such a large festival, there are sure to have been many interesting facts that people would love to know. So, we have interesting facts for you about Ganesh Chaturthi.

• People of the Hindu religion in Thailand, China, Japan, Cambodia, Nepal, and Afghanistan also celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.
• In 1893, Bal Gangadhar Tilak celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi publicly to fight the British.
• It’s better not to look at the moon during Ganesh Chaturthi as it may be unlucky.

Unique Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration Ideas

Ganesh Chaturthi can be a celebration even at home. Here are three great celebration ideas.

1. Clean and Beautify

Cleanliness is a significant part of Hinduism. To start the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, first, you need to clean your house properly, then make a small area for the Ganesh idol. Lastly, if you want to add splashes of colors, decorate your home with flowers and colorful drapes. It will give you a festive look and spread a sweet scent around the house.

2. Bring Ganpati Statue to Home

It is believed that when Ganpati is immersed in the water, he takes away all the sins and troubles from the people of the household with him. So, before the festivities start, bring the Lord Ganesha idol home and place it in the designated area. Light some festive lights and ‘diya’ (a small copper cup with oil and a small string) to welcome the deity to your house.

3. Pray and Seek Blessings

During the festival days, give offerings and pray to Lord Ganesha in hopes of getting his blessings. Enjoy an intense and respectful prayer session with your family and friends.

Ganesh Chaturthi Quotes

Wish your family and friends quotes or wishes for Ganesh Chaturthi.

As rains bless the Earth, likewise, may Lord Ganesha bless you with never-ending happiness.

Let us offer prayers to Lord Ganesh with all our hearts and the best of our intentions to seek his blessings and love for a beautiful life.

FAQ

1. What does Lord Ganesha symbolize?

Lord Ganesha symbolizes prosperity, wisdom, and intelligence.

2. Is Ganesh Chaturthi an official holiday? 

No, the festival is not an official holiday but an optional regional holiday.