Ganesh Chathurti (Date): In India, people celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with great zeal. It will be celebrated on 10th of September this year. Moreover, this 11 days festival will end on 21st of September. The birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of new beginnings and a fresh start, is celebrated every year on Ganesh Chaturthi. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival takes place in the month of Bhadra, falling in August/September on the Gregorian calendar.
Lord Ganesh is worshipped as the god of knowledge, prosperity, and good fortune on this day. Lord Ganesh is said to have been born in the month of Bhadrapada's Shukla Paksha.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Lord Shiva and Parvati have a younger son, Ganesha. There are several versions of his birth story, but one of them is quite popular.
Lord Ganesha was created by Parvati out of dirt from her body to protect her in the absence of Shiva, according to the original narrative. She handed him the responsibility of keeping an eye on her bathroom door while she took a bath. Meanwhile, Shiva returned home, and Ganesha, who had no idea who Shiva was, intervened. Shiva was enraged by this, and after a fight between the two, he severed Ganesha's head. When Parvati learned about this, she was furious, and Lord Shiva swore to bring Ganesha back to life.
The devas were dispatched to locate a child's head pointing north, but all they found was an elephant's head. Ganesha was born after Shiva put the elephant's head on the child's body.
Devotees who pray to Ganesha are said to be able to get their wishes and desires granted. So, the fundamental point of Ganesh Chaturthi is that devotees who pray to him are cleansed of their sins and guided down the road of enlightenment and understanding.
How people celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
During the 10-day celebration, there are basically four main rituals that are done by people and they are Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan.
At homes, temples, and other locations, Ganesha statues are placed in artistically designed 'pandals.' Flowers, garlands, and lights adorn the statue as well. A priest sings mantra to inspire life in the diety in a ritual known as Pranapratishhtha. The ritual, Shhodashopachara is performed by offering prayers to idol of Ganesha. People sing or play religious music, dance to drum beats, and light fireworks, all of which contribute to the joyous atmosphere.
Also you can try some special recipes of Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
The Uttarpuja rite is subsequently conducted, which entails respectfully wishing Ganesha farewell. The Ganpati Visarjan ceremony follows, in which the idol is immersed in water. People usually chant in Marathi, "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya," which means "Goodbye Lord, please come back next year," while dragging the statue to the water and immersing it.
While some devotees spend the event at home, others go to public pandals to pay their respects to Lord Ganesha. People pay Ganesha their respects, pray to him, and make offerings to him. People also cook dishes such as Modak, Pooran Poli karanji etc for their family, friends and visitors.
Why Ganesha is Worshipped in Maharashtra?
According to historical sources, the founder of the Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji, began celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with tremendous zeal because Lord Ganesha was the Peshwas' Kuladevata (family god).
On the other hand, the Peshwas who inherited Maratha Empire’s administration (1718-1818), also promoted the celebrations in their capital, Pune, as Ganesha was their family deity. Although it lose state patronage but revived by Indian freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak after Peshwas(200 years later). Ganesh Chaturthi served as a medium to bring patriotism among Maharashtrians. Tilak was able to create a sense of togetherness among the populace in opposition to the British.
Since 1893, this festival has been celebrated in Mumbai's Keshavji Naik chawl sarvajanik ganeshotsav mandal, which is the first and oldest mandal to be established in Girgaum.
Through Ganesh festival, visionaries Shivaji Maharaj and Bal Gangadhar Tilak created patriotic spirits in the society. This may be the reason why Ganesh chaturthi is more famous in Maharashtra, India.
