Ganesh Chaturthi
Hinduism 10-day celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. The festival commemorates the birth of the elephant-headed deity, Bhagwan Ganesh, the god of wisdom and prosperity. It starts on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the Hindu calendar & sixth month, Bhadrapada (August–September). Bhagwan Ganesh’s statues are erected on elevated platforms, in homes, or in ornately decorated tents at the beginning of the festival. Pranapratishtha, a rite to bring life to the idols, is the first step in worship. This is followed by Shodashopachara, or the 16 ways of expressing adoration. The Ganesh Upanishad and other Vedic hymns are chanted as people anoint the idols with red sandalwood paste and yellow and red flowers. Additionally,
coconut, jaggery, and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings thought to be Bhagwan Ganesh favourite food) are served to him.
Large processions with drum beats, devotional singing, and dancing transport the idols to nearby waterways at the festival end. They are submerged there as part of a ritual that represents Bhagwan Ganesh return to Mount Kailasa, the home of his parents, Bhagwan Shiva and Maa Parvati.
The festival also has a rich history. Ganesh Chaturthi has been publicly recognised in Pune since the reign of King Shivaji (1630–1680), the Maratha Empire founder. During the month of Bhadrapad in the 18th century, the Peshwas, who were Bhagwan Ganesh enthusiasts, began a public Ganesha festival in Pune, their capital city. The festival was a private family celebration in Maharashtra after the British Raj took over, but Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian
freedom fighter and social reformer brought it back to life. This festival is a very big event in Maharashtra as all the cities in the state celebrate it with
great fervour. People mostly take at least a week-long holiday to celebrate this festival with great joy and entertainment.
The grand public celebrations of the festival are also popular and are planned by neighbourhood associations, trade associations, or local youth organisations. The association that organises the festival, raise money from its members, as well as from locals and businesses. The Bhagwan Ganesh idols and auxiliary figures are erected in transient structures called mandaps or pandals. The event includes communal activities including free
medical examinations, blood donation locations, and donations to the needy as well as artistic activities like singing, theatre, and orchestral concerts.
In addition to its religious significance, Ganesh Chaturthi is a significant economic event in Mumbai, Surat, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kurnool. The festival, which serves as a platform for up-and-coming artists, provides a sizable portion of the income for many artists, businesses, and industries. The ceremony also includes followers of various
religions.
On the last day, the Visarjan (immersion) of Bhagwan Ganesh is done in water bodies. There is a story behind this as well. On the final day of the festival, Bhagwan Ganesh is said to return to his parents, Bhagwan Shiva and Maa Parvati on Mount Kailash. The significance of the cycle of birth, life, and death is also indicated by the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is believed that when the Bhagwan Ganesh’s statue is removed from the house for immersion, the house different barriers are taken with it and destroyed at the same time.
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