The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi begins on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September).
Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and prosperity. It is one of the most popular Hindu festivals in India and abroad.
One of the main rituals of the festival is to bring a clay idol of Ganesha to one’s home and worship it with devotion and joy. The idol is then immersed in water on the last day of the festival, symbolizing Ganesha’s return to his heavenly abode.
But what is the best time to bring Ganesha home? How can one ensure that the arrival of Ganesha brings good luck and blessings to the family? Here are some tips and guidelines to help you choose the right time and manner to welcome Ganesha into your home.
Choose an auspicious date and time
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi begins on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This day is considered to be the birthday of Ganesha and the most auspicious day to bring him home. However, if you are unable to bring him home on this day, you can choose any other day within the 10-day period of the festival.
The time of the day is also important for bringing Ganesha home. According to Hindu astrology, there are certain periods of the day that are considered auspicious (shubh) and others that are considered inauspicious (ashubh). The auspicious periods are called shubh muhurat and they vary according to the lunar calendar and the location. You can consult a priest or an astrologer to find out the shubh muhurat for your city and date. Alternatively, you can also refer to online sources that provide shubh muhurat information based on your location and date.
Some general guidelines for choosing a shubh muhurat are:
- Avoid bringing Ganesha home during rahu kalam, which is a period of about 90 minutes every day that is considered unfavorable for any auspicious activity. Rahu kalam varies according to the day of the week and the location. You can find out the rahu kalam for your city and date online or from a calendar.
- Avoid bringing Ganesha home during yamaganda kalam, which is another period of about 90 minutes every day that is considered unfavorable for any auspicious activity. Yamaganda kalam also varies according to the day of the week and the location. You can find out the yamaganda kalam for your city and date online or from a calendar.
- Prefer bringing Ganesha home during abhijit muhurat, which is a period of about 48 minutes every day that is considered very auspicious for any activity. Abhijit muhurat usually occurs around noon, but it may vary slightly according to the location and date. You can find out the abhijit muhurat for your city and date online or from a calendar.
- Prefer bringing Ganesha home during labh or amrit choghadiya, which are periods of about one and a half hours each that are considered very auspicious for any activity. Choghadiya are subdivisions of a day based on sunrise and sunset timings. There are eight choghadiya in a day, four during daytime and four during nighttime. Labh means profit and amrit means nectar, so these choghadiya are associated with success and happiness. You can find out the labh or amrit choghadiya for your city and date online or from a calendar.
Prepare your home for Ganesha’s arrival
Before bringing Ganesha home, you should prepare your home for his arrival by cleaning it thoroughly and decorating it with flowers, rangoli (colorful patterns made on the floor), lights, torans (door hangings), etc. You should also choose a suitable place in your home where you will install Ganesha’s idol. It should be a clean, well-lit, ventilated, and spacious area where you can perform puja (worship) comfortably. You should also arrange a pedestal or a platform where you will place Ganesha’s idol. You can decorate it with cloth, flowers, garlands, etc. You should also keep all the items required for puja ready, such as incense sticks, lamps, camphor, coconut, fruits, sweets, etc.
Perform puja and welcome Ganesha with devotion
Once you have brought Ganesha home, you should perform puja to welcome him and invoke his presence in the idol. You can follow the steps given below to perform puja:
- Place Ganesha’s idol on the pedestal or platform and cover it with a cloth.
- Take a bath and wear clean clothes. You can also apply tilak (a mark on the forehead) and wear a sacred thread if you wish.
- Light a lamp and incense sticks in front of Ganesha’s idol and offer flowers, coconut, fruits, sweets, etc. to him.
- Uncover Ganesha’s idol and chant the following mantra: Om Gan Ganapataye Namah (I bow to the lord of all obstacles).
- Sprinkle some water on Ganesha’s idol and yourself with a spoon or a leaf. This is called abhishek (ritual bathing).
- Apply some kumkum (red powder) and sandalwood paste on Ganesha’s forehead and trunk. This is called alankar (ornamentation).
- Offer a modak (a sweet dumpling) to Ganesha as it is his favorite food. You can also offer other sweets, such as laddu, peda, barfi, etc.
- Perform aarti (a ritual of waving lamps) to Ganesha while singing or playing his songs or hymns. You can also ring a bell or clap your hands while doing aarti.
- Pray to Ganesha for his blessings and ask him to remove all the obstacles from your life. You can also make any specific wishes or requests to him.
- Bow down to Ganesha and touch his feet with reverence. This is called pranam (salutation).
- Distribute the prasad (offering) to your family members and guests. You can also share it with your neighbors and friends.
By following these steps, you can bring Ganesha home at the best time and welcome him with devotion. You can also invite your relatives and friends to join you in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi and enjoy the festive spirit. May Ganesha bless you with happiness, prosperity, and wisdom!
Conclusion
Bringing Ganesha home is a sacred and joyous ritual that marks the beginning of Ganesh Chaturthi. By choosing an auspicious date and time, preparing your home for his arrival, and performing puja with devotion, you can ensure that Ganesha blesses you and your family with happiness, prosperity, and wisdom. You can also invite your relatives and friends to join you in celebrating this festival and enjoy the festive spirit. May Ganesha remove all the obstacles from your life and fulfill your wishes!
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