Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in India is a festival celebrated with full pomp and glory, and the grand occasion unites people from different castes and parts of the country. It is observed in the month of August or September all over India in commemoration of the birth of elephant-headed deity, Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The 10-day-long festival commences on the 4th day (Chaturthi) of the waxing moon phase and ends on the14th day (Anant Chaturdashi). The deity is known by 108 different names and is considered the saviour of humans from every obstacle. That is why he is worshipped first by the Hindus before beginning any new activity for the day.
Although a prominent festival across India, Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, among others, is celebrated extensively, where towering idols of decked-up Ganesha are created for the public to offer their prayers.
If you have not witnessed this vibrant and colourful festival up close, now is the time to do so. Visit these top places in where Ganesh Chaturthi Festival celebration in India is observed in all grandeur and splendour.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as ‘Vinayak Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’ is the day when all Hindus celebrate one of the most popular deities, Lord Ganesh.
The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon). This means the date will normally fall between August 10th September.
History Of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh can also be known by the names Heramba, Ekadanta, Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar. Ganesh Chaturthi / Ganesh Puja is one of the widely celebrated Hindu festivals in the country. The blessings of this God are invoked at religious ceremonies since he is the one who can all difficulties to success, especially when people are commencing a new business or an enterprise. Lord Vinayaka is known as the fortune giver and one who can assist to avoid natural calamities. He is also the patron god of traveling. Vinayaka is portrayed with an elephant’s head on a human body. According to Hindu customs, Lord Ganesh Chaturthi Festival is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Last day of Ganesh Chaturthi
During the 11 day celebrations, various cities and communities may create a carnival-like atmosphere by hosting live concerts or art exhibits. Larger cities in particular often offer no-cost medical evaluations, organise blood drives and other charitable acts that benefit the less fortunate.
On the last day of the festival, which is known as Ananta Chaturdasi, statues are paraded through the streets accompanied by singing and dancing. Arriving at the ocean, a specially constructed water tank or other body of water, participants submerse the statues, which releases the entity and symbolically returns the materials back to the earth. Private residents may submerse their statues in buckets of water or use similar options.
As government officials expressed a growing concern over the water pollution that may occur when immersing statues created from perishable materials, citizens are encouraged to avoid using public waterways for the ceremony. Artists are also encouraged to use non-perishable materials when creating Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. In this way, the likenesses may be used consecutively year after year.
How is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
In certain parts of India, such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated for ten days and is a very public occasion. Elsewhere it may be celebrated in homes, where hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh Chaturthi Festival. Sweets are a common offering as Hindu legend has it that Ganesh liked them.
On the day of the festival, clay idols of Ganesh are placed in homes or outdoor in decorated tents for people to view and pay their homage. Priests will then invokes life into the idols while mantras are chanted, in a ritual known as ‘pranapratishhtha‘.
Many of the Ganesh idols will be placed outside under Bodhi Trees (Sacred Fig). The Bodhi tree is revered as a great source of remedies and is used to treat up to 50 different ailments. It also has a unique ability in that it can produce Oxygen at night-time instead of Carbon Dioxide. These healthy aspects of the tree make it a popular place for people to worship at, as it is seen a great healer to naturally cure illnesses.