Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the glory and grace of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated in India and around the world. It is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha and is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav. It usually falls in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) according to the Hindu calendar and lasts for 10 days.

Date and Shubh Muhurat

This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will begin on Monday, September 18, 2023 and end on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. The festival starts on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) of the moon in Bhadrapada and ends on the fourteenth day (Anant Chaturdashi) of the same lunar cycle.

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The most auspicious time to perform the Ganesh Puja is during the midday (Madhyahna) period. According to Drik Panchang, the Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat will begin at 11:01 am and continue till 01:28 pm on September 18, 2023. The duration of the puja will be 02 hours and 27 minutes.

The Chaturthi Tithi will begin at 12:39 pm on September 18, 2023 and end at 01:43 pm on September 19, 2023.

History and Legend

There are many stories and legends associated with the origin and significance of Ganesh Chaturthi. One of the most popular ones is that Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati from the dirt of her body while she was bathing. She asked him to guard the door while she was inside. When Lord Shiva came to see her, Ganesha did not recognize him and stopped him from entering. This enraged Shiva, who cut off Ganesha’s head with his trident. Parvati was grief-stricken and demanded that Shiva restore her son’s life. Shiva then instructed his followers to bring the head of the first living creature they could find. They found an elephant and brought its head to Shiva, who placed it on Ganesha’s body and revived him. He also declared that Ganesha would be worshipped before any other god.

Another legend relates to the sage Vyas, who wanted to write the epic Mahabharata. He asked Lord Ganesha to be his scribe, but Ganesha agreed only on the condition that Vyas would recite the verses without any pause. Vyas agreed but also devised a plan to make Ganesha think before writing. He composed some complex verses that required Ganesha to break his pen to understand them. Vyas then used this time to compose more verses. In order to continue writing, Ganesha broke one of his tusks and used it as a pen. This is why he is also known as Ekdanta, meaning one-tusked.

Significance and Benefits

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the power and grace of Lord Ganesha. He is revered as the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta), the bestower of success (Siddhivinayaka), and the patron of arts and sciences (Buddhi Pradaayaka). He is also associated with learning, intelligence, wisdom, and wealth.

By worshipping Lord Ganesha on this day, devotees seek his blessings for a prosperous and happy life. They also pray for the removal of any hurdles or difficulties in their personal and professional endeavors. They offer various offerings such as modak (a sweet dumpling), durva (a type of grass), flowers, fruits, coconut, etc. to please him.

Some of the benefits of observing Ganesh Chaturthi are:

• It enhances one’s faith and devotion towards God.
• It brings peace, harmony, and joy in one’s family and society.
• It attracts positive energy and removes negative influences.
• It improves one’s mental clarity, concentration, and memory.
• It boosts one’s confidence, courage, and creativity.
• It grants one’s wishes and fulfills one’s desires.

Celebrations and Rituals

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor across India and abroad. The preparations for the festival begin well in advance. People buy or make idols of Lord Ganesha in various sizes, shapes, colors, and materials. They also decorate their homes or pandals (temporary structures) with flowers, lights, fabrics, etc. to welcome him.

The main rituals of the festival are:

• Pranapratishtha: This is the process of invoking the presence of Lord Ganesha in the idol. It is done by chanting mantras and sprinkling holy water on the idol.
• Shodashopachara: This is the 16-step method of offering worship to Lord Ganesha. It includes offering him a seat, a bath, clothes, ornaments, sandalwood paste, vermilion, flowers, incense, lamp, food, betel leaf, etc.
• Ganesh Aarti: This is the hymn of praise and gratitude to Lord Ganesha. It is sung by the devotees with devotion and joy. Some of the popular Ganesh aartis are Jai Ganesh Deva, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, Shendur Lal Chadhayo, etc.
• Modak Prasad: This is the main delicacy offered to Lord Ganesha as his favorite food. It is a sweet dumpling made of rice flour or wheat flour stuffed with coconut and jaggery. It is also distributed among the devotees as a blessing from him.
• Visarjan: This is the final ritual of immersing the idol of Lord Ganesha in water. It is done on the last day of the festival or on any other day as per one’s convenience. It symbolizes the departure of Lord Ganesha from his earthly abode to his heavenly abode. It also signifies the dissolution of the ego and attachment to worldly things. The devotees chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya” meaning “O Lord Ganesha, come back soon next year” as they bid him farewell.

Important Facts

Some of the important facts about Ganesh Chaturthi are:

• The festival was revived and popularized by the freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak in the late 19th century. He used it as a platform to unite people and spread awareness about the national movement against British colonialism.
• The festival is celebrated in different ways in different regions of India. For example, in Maharashtra, it is celebrated with cultural programs such as music, dance, drama, etc. In Goa, it is celebrated with clay idols that are painted with natural colors. In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated with kozhukattai (a type of modak) and sundal (a savory snack made of legumes).
• The festival is also celebrated in many other countries where there is a significant presence of Hindus or Indians. For example, in Nepal, it is celebrated as Chaturthi or Chavath. In Sri Lanka, it is celebrated as Vinayagar Chathurthi. In Thailand, it is celebrated as Phra Phikanet Puja. In Indonesia, it is celebrated as Hari Raya Ganesh Puja.
• The festival has inspired many artists and filmmakers to create works based on it. For example, some of the famous movies that feature Ganesh Chaturthi are Agneepath (1990), Vaastav (1999), Don (2006), ABCD (2013), etc.
• The festival has also witnessed some record-breaking feats and achievements. For example, in 2023, a 61-feet tall idol of Lord Ganesha was installed in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest idol ever made for Ganesh Chaturthi. In 2023, a 6-kilometer long procession of over 15 lakh devotees was held in Pune, Maharashtra. It was recognized by the Limca Book of Records as the longest procession ever held for Ganesh Visarjan.

Conclusion

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the glory and grace of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings. It is observed with great devotion and joy by millions of Hindus and Indians across the world. It is a time to seek his blessings, offer him gratitude, and immerse oneself in his love. It is also a time to reflect on his teachings, values, and attributes. He inspires us to overcome obstacles, achieve success, and live a happy and harmonious life. He is the friend, guide, and protector of all. He is Ganpati Bappa Morya!

Also Read: Essay on Ganesh Chaturthi for Students

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