[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When it comes to Indian festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the eagerly awaited festivals. It honours the birth of Lord Ganesha, and devotees celebrate it with great enthusiasm. Lord Ganesha is an elephant-headed God known for his wisdom and capability to remove every obstacle. The celebration lasts 10 days, and many rituals, events and festivities occur.
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the primary festivals of India, and people around the country celebrate it with great avidity. RozgarKhoj brings you a blog on Ganesh Chaturthi. We will discuss this festival’s history, prestige and other things. So, let’s begin with the blog.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
History
The festival has a long history. People believe that the story started between the 4th and 7th centuries CE, during the reign of the Gupta dynasty. In 1893, the festival became public when Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak championed it to circumvent the colonial British government’s ban on Hindu gatherings through its mass public assembly. Since then, people have celebrated it across India and worldwide wherever Hindu communities exist.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2759″ img_size=”900*600″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Significance
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, who removes all obstacles and patronizes arts and sciences. Also, the festival marks the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati after the death and rebirth of Ganesha. It reminds devotees of the power of devotion, worship and ethics. The elephant head is a symbol of wisdom, understanding and a discriminating intellect.
Date and Muhurta
In 2023, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 19th September. According to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, the festival begins on the Shukla Chaturthi tithi of Bhadrapada month.
Rituals
The 10-day festival involves detailed rituals and celebrations. These include the following.
Pran Pratishtha
Pran Pratishtha is the ritual performed before the priest installs the idol to invoke life into it. The priest first purifies the designated spot and the idol by sprinkling water and kusha grass. He then begins chanting holy Vedic mantras and hymns from ancient Hindu scriptures. This ritual is crucial as it transforms the idol from being just a statue to becoming a manifestation of the Lord worthy of worship. Moreover, this ritual infuses divinity into the idol.
Shodashopachara
Shodashopachara is a ritual that involves offering 16 items to the deity while reciting Sanskrit mantras. It is an elaborate worship ritual performed twice every day during Ganesh Chaturthi. The 16 offerings include Gandha (Sandalwood), Pushpa (flowers), Dhoopa (incense), Deepa (light), and Naivedya (food items), among others. Food offerings are often modaks, Lord Ganesha’s favourite, and fruits, coconut, kheer and panchamrit. The 16 steps also signify completeness and are aimed at pleasing the deity.
Uttar Puja
Uttar Puja refers to the ceremonial puja and prayers offered in the morning and evening during the festival. Devotees gather to sing bhajans, aartis, hymns and chant mantras while worshipping the idol. The priest leads the proceedings by performing rituals, ringing bells and blowing conches. Some popular Ganesha aartis sung are Sukhkarta Dukhharta, Deva Shree Ganesha, and Jai Ganesh Deva. Distribution of prasad of modaks and fruits takes place after the puja. Uttar Puja enables devotees to show their devotion and seek Lord Ganesha’sGanesha’s blessings.
Ganapathi Homam
On the final day of Ganesh Chaturthi, a special fire ceremony known as priests perform Ganapathi Homam before visarjan. This ritual is to please Lord Ganesha and destroy any obstacles devotees face. Doing homam also absolves them of any sins. Devotees thank him for his presence and blessings.
Visarjan
Visarjan marks the conclusion of the festival. Devotees take the idol on a final procession accompanied by music, dance and fanfare before being immersed in water bodies like rivers, seas or lakes. Devotees chant ”Ganapati Bappa Morya” and bid farewell to their beloved Lord Ganesha, asking him to return soon next year. Visarjan symbolizes the impermanence of life and everything merging into the Divine source.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2760″ img_size=”900*600″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Celebrations in Different States
People celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in pan-India, but the festivities take unique regional forms.
Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi start weeks in advance. Various groups and organizations in Mumbai and other cities set up huge pandals decorated with lights and flowers. There is a lot of fanfare and competition among different pandals to have the most beautiful and creative Ganpati idol, which attracts the maximum devotees. The most famous Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Maharashtra happens at Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai, where lakhs of devotees stand in queue for hours to glimpse the Lalbaugcha Raja idol. The 10-day celebrations in Maharashtra are quite festive and grand.
Karnataka
People celebrate the Gowri festival in Karnataka on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival marks the arrival of Gowri or Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva before the birth of their son, Lord Ganesha. On the Gowri festival, locals decorate their homes with rangolis, and girls perform the traditional Dollu Kunitha dance. Devotees make traditional food offerings to seek the blessings of Goddess Gowri. It sets the tone for the arrival of Lord Ganpati the next day.
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations involve beautifully decorated idols adorned with fresh flowers daily. Locals visit various pandals throughout the day to offer prayers. Special prasadams and food items like seedai, panagam, kozhukattai, mysorepa, paal kova, modak and vadai are prepared and offered to Lord Ganesh. Cultural events, rallies, concerts, plays, sports events, etc., are also organized during the festival.
Goa
The Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in Goa have a distinct local flavour. Families install idols in their ancestral homes rather than in public pandals. Copper, clay or eco-friendly idols are specially ordered and set up following all rituals and traditions. Various community groups organize cultural programmes showcasing Goan art forms like dashavatara, khell-tigull and more. The immersion ceremony involves local bands and fireworks. Locals indulge in mouth-watering delicacies and sweetmeats.
Gujarat
In Gujarat, locals observe strict fasts on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi called Sankashti Chaturthi. People eat only after sighting the moon at night before the Ganpati installation the next morning. Elaborate puja occurs daily, followed by ten varieties of food offerings and vadwa (circular fried snacks). Devotees perform dandwat pranam rituals, stuti and aarti. On immersion, crowds chant ”Ganpati Bappa Morya” and bid farewell to the Lord.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”2761″ img_size=”900*600″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Celebration on Ganesh Chaturthi
People celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in various ways. Let’s take a glance at these.
Ritual Purification Bath
On Ganesh Chaturthi day, devotees wake up early, often before sunrise, to take a ritual bath. People take an early morning bath to purify one’s minds and bodies before welcoming the Lord home. Many also choose to wear new traditional clothes to mark the auspicious occasion.
Fasting With Light Foods
Fasts are observed the entire day by not consuming any cereals or grains. Devotees eat only light foods such as fruits, milk, potato preparations, sabudana khichdi, etc., before the evening puja. Observing these fasts is a way to cleanse the body and prepare for the main festivities.
Evening Idol Worship
In the evening, devotees perform a detailed puja, which involves bathing the idol, dressing him in new clothes and doing shodashopachara – the 16-step worship ceremony. Devotees offer modaks, coconut, flowers and durva grass to the idol as these are Lord Ganesha’s favourite items.
Chanting And Singing
The puja is accompanied by chanting of Ganesh mantras and singing of aartis. Devotees often circle around the idol while singing bhajans and aartis like ”Sukhakarta Dukhharta”.
Seeking Blessings
After the puja, devotees take the blessings of Lord Ganesha by bowing down and touching his feet in reverence.
Prasad Feasting
At the puja’s conclusion, people gather to enjoy the prasad, usually consisting of modaks and other sweets. Preparation of a lavish vegetarian feast takes place for the occasion.
Grand Decorations
Devotees decorate homes and public pandals with fresh flowers, rangolis and lights to give Lord Ganesha a grand welcome. The positive energy during Ganesh puja is palpable.
Conclusion
Ganesh Chaturthi is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The occasion brings people together in worship and celebration. It reminds devotees of the importance of beginnings, wisdom, devotion and community bonding. The beautiful idols and energy during the festival are a sight to behold. RozgaKhoj wishes everyone a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
