Celebrated in the honor of Lord Ganesh, Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu Festival, which brings people of all religion and from all walks of life, together. This, talked about festival lasts for 10 days and is highly signified by the colorful pandals and several rituals.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh. During this period, in the modern age, several idols of Ganesh are established in the temporary crested Pandals all over the places in the locality. Lord Ganesh, who is considered as the God of Beginnings and is honored at the start of rituals all over, is in fact, one of the dearest Gods of believers. The birth of Lord Ganesh is quite differently mentioned and features two different versions. One version, which relates to the famous tale of the Lord Ganesh being created by Goddess Parvati and had severing by Lord Shiva, and bringing back to life by attachment of the head of an elephant, while the other tale relates to the creation of Lord Ganesh by Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on the request of Devas for the purpose of obstacle-creator in the path of Rakshasas.
How is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10 day festival, which is marked by the installation of Lord Ganesh Idols at various places of the locality. For the installation, a temporary platform, also known by the term ‘Pandals’ is established. The idols are offered pure water and other offerings like Honey and Milk. Till the time, idol remains at Pandal either at home or at any other locality; Puja is offered twice a day. While the number of days, the idol remains at the Pandal, entirely depends on the dedication of the individual or on the custom of the family, the idols can leave home on either of 1.5 days, 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day or on 11th Day. There are, in fact, four rituals, which are performed during the festival; one is Pranapratishhtha, which is actually the process of infusing the deity into an idol, the second is Shhodashopachara, which is the process of paying rituals to God Ganesh in 16 different forms. The third one is Uttarpuja, which allows the shifting of the idol after its installation. While the fourth and last one is the Ganpati Visarjan, which actually is the last ritual and is signified by the immersion of the Idol of Lord Ganesh in the river. All during the Ganesh Festival, the Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, Upanishad, the Ganapati Atharvashirsa, and the Ganesh Stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted and offerings like Pure water, Milk, Coconut, Modaks, Juggery and red flowers and others are offered to the idols.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over the world by the Hindus. In the state of Maharashtra, this festival holds a high significance and is celebrated by almost all households of Maharashtra.
All over the world, this festival signifies the wisdom and prosperity. Lord Ganesh is the giver of fortune and can help to avoid calamities of all kinds.
