Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the love and faith of millions of devotees towards Lord Ganesha.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav, is one of the most popular Hindu festivals in India. It celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, success, and good fortune. The festival is observed for 10 days, starting from the fourth day of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Chaturthi) in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) and ending on the fourteenth day of the waning moon phase (Anant Chaturdashi) in the same month. But why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated for 10 days? What is the significance and history behind this tradition? Let us find out.
The history of Ganesh Chaturthi
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati from the sandalwood paste that she used for bathing. She asked him to guard the entrance of her abode while she took a bath. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva, Parvatiโs husband, returned home and was stopped by Ganesha at the door. Shiva did not recognize Ganesha as his son and got angry at his refusal to let him in. He beheaded Ganesha with his trident and entered the house. Parvati was shocked and enraged to see her sonโs lifeless body. She threatened to destroy the world if Ganesha was not brought back to life. Shiva realized his mistake and asked his followers to find a child whose mother was not looking at him and bring his head to him. They found an elephant calf whose mother was facing away and cut off its head. Shiva then attached the elephant head to Ganeshaโs body and revived him. He also declared that Ganesha would be the first god to be worshiped before any other god or any auspicious occasion.
The legend of Ganeshaโs birth and revival is one of the reasons why Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days. It symbolizes the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, as well as the power of divine grace to overcome any obstacle.
The significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is not only a celebration of Ganeshaโs birthday but also a way of honoring his attributes and blessings. Lord Ganesha is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and wisdom. He is also associated with new beginnings, prosperity, and happiness. Devotees worship him before starting any work, exam, wedding, or new job. They also seek his protection from evil forces and his guidance in achieving their goals.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a time to express gratitude and devotion to Lord Ganesha by offering prayers, rituals, songs, dances, and various delicacies. The most important offering is the modak, a sweet dumpling that is said to be Ganeshaโs favorite food. Other offerings include coconut, jaggery, fruits, flowers, incense, and red vermilion.
The festival also fosters a sense of community and harmony among people of different backgrounds and beliefs. People install clay idols of Ganesha in their homes or in public places and invite their friends, relatives, neighbors, and strangers to join them in the festivities. They also participate in processions, cultural programs, charity works, and environmental awareness campaigns.
The celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days with different rituals and activities on each day. Here is a brief overview of how the festival is observed:
- Day 1: The first day marks the installation or sthapana of the idol of Ganesha in a decorated pandal or altar. The idol is usually made of clay or eco-friendly materials and painted with bright colors. The idol is then invoked with life or prana pratishtha by chanting mantras and sprinkling holy water. This is followed by shodashopachara puja or 16 forms of worship that include offering modak, coconut, durva grass, red hibiscus flowers, incense, lamps, etc. The idol is then adorned with clothes, jewelry, garlands, and vermilion.
- Day 2-9: The next nine days are dedicated to offering daily prayers or aarti to Ganesha at morning and evening. The prayers are accompanied by singing bhajans or devotional songs and playing musical instruments. People also visit other pandals or homes where Ganesha idols are installed and exchange greetings and sweets. Some people also observe fasts or vrats on certain days such as Sankashti Chaturthi or Angarki Chaturthi to seek Ganeshaโs blessings. Various cultural and social events are also organized during these days, such as dance, drama, music, art, sports, quiz, etc.
- Day 10: The last day is the most important and emotional day of the festival. It is called Ganesh Visarjan or immersion of the idol. On this day, people bid farewell to Ganesha with tears and joy. They carry the idol in a procession to a nearby water body such as a river, lake, or sea. They chant โGanpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Yaโ which means โO Lord Ganesha, come back soon next yearโ. They then immerse the idol in the water and pray for his return. The immersion symbolizes the dissolution of the physical form of Ganesha and his return to his abode in Mount Kailash. It also signifies the detachment from worldly attachments and the realization of the ultimate truth.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the love and faith of millions of devotees towards Lord Ganesha. It is a festival that brings joy and peace to everyone who participates in it. It is a festival that reminds us of the values and virtues that Ganesha represents and inspires us to follow them in our lives.
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