Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 19 September 2012, Wednesday

Ganesh Chaturthi is the most awaited festival in state of Maharashtra. It's an important Hindu festival, celebrated with great prompt and enthusiasm. Ganesh Chaturthi is marked as the birthday of Lord Ganesha or mythologically called - 'Vigana Harta' (remover of obstacles). On this day, the devotees of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, offer prayers to their deity and seek his blessings.

The best celebrations associated with Ganesha Chaturthi are usually witnessed in the state of Maharashtra where celebrations stretch across 10 days. The state witnesses celebrations on gigantic proportions, Ganesha pandals (stages) are created and decorated beautifully till the day of Ganesh Murti Visarjan (immersion of Ganesha idols in to the river).

Ganesha Chaturthi Recipes
Celebrations associated with Ganesh Chaturthi are spread across 10 days and also involve preparation of popular dishes and sweets. Famous Recipes prepared during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi include: Ladoo, Moong Dal Halwa and Kaju Burfi amongst many other Popular Sweet Dishes

When is Ganesh Chaturthi
In 2011, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 1st September Thursday, 2011. Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth (Chaturthi) day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Bhadrapad month (August-September) as per the Hindu Calendar.

Celebrations of Ganesh Chaturathi
Although the Ganesha Chaturthi festival falls in the month of Bhado (August-September) but the preparations for the celebrations starts well in advance. Beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha, small and large, are made. The spirituality and enthusiasm dominates the entire atmosphere.

Ganesh Puja
On the festive day these idols are placed in the house holds and public mandaps. Then the ritual of the Pranapratishhtha Pooja is performed to invoke the holy presence of Lord Ganesha into the idol followed by the worship with sixteen modes of showing honor, known as Shhodashopachara. Offering of Durva (grass) blades and modaka, a delicacy prepared from rice flour, jaggery, and coconut, is an important part of the Ganesha Chaturthi puja. Ganesha is also offered red flowers, and anointed with a red chandan.

For next 10 days, the Ganesha temples, each house hold and large mandaps are swayed away by the name of their most loved God Ganesha. On 11th day, the procession ceremony of the immersion of the image/idol in a water body is performed to see-off the lord and praying him to take away all misfortunes and come again next year.

Story of Ganesha Chaturthi
According to Hindu mythological scriptures Lord Ganesha was formed by Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. It is said that one day Parvati formed a sculpture from the paste that she used on her body before taking bath. She infused life in that figure and ordered him to guard the entrance of her bathroom. God Shiva returned and stopped at the entrance of his house by that boy. In extreme rage Shiva struck off the boy's head. This incident filled Parvati in utter grief and requested Shiva to return her son. Then Shiva fixed the head of an elephant and restored life onto the body of that boy. Lord Shiva named this boy as "Ganpati" Gan means (hosts) & Pati means (Chief) and blessed that Ganpati would be worshipped before every new venture. The procession to immerse Ganesha idols/images on Ganesh Chaturthi finds its links with Indian Freedom Struggle. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak started Ganpati Visarjan procession in 1893 and used it as a platform to penetrate awareness about the freedom movement among the mass of India.

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
"Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshhu Sarvada"

"O Ganesha - Ganapati, One with a curved trunk, a large body, and a brilliance equal to a crore suns! O God, please make all my undertakings free from obstacles always."

Ganesha, the lord with elephant head riding on a mouse, is mostly loved God of Hindus worshipped for success (Sidhi) in undertakings, and intelligence (budhi). Ganpati is praised before any venture is started and known as the God of education, knowledge and wisdom, literature, and the fine arts.

Ganesh Chaturthi holds utmost significance among the followers of Lord Ganesha. Lots of preparations are made to celebrate this auspicious Occasions : large public processions, pooja ceremonies, social get together, erection of giant size mandpas and special religious ceremonies are organized. Apart from a big Occasions, Ganesh Chaturthi has also become a very important financial activity. Thousands of artists & small and medium industries eagrly waits for this mega Occasions.

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