Ganesh Chaturthi: Significance and Celebrations

Introduction:

The 10-day Hindu festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, is no less of a wonder when it comes to its celebrations. This festival is celebrated in the commemoration of the birth of Lord Ganesha, the deity of auspicious beginnings. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is also believed that the festival removes any barrier from human life while bringing harmony and prosperity to everyone. There are almost 108 distinct names of Lord Ganesha, famously known as the Lord of arts and Sciences and the Deva of knowledge. While these celebrations are taking part in India, there are still a few good numbers of people who need to be made aware of what Ganesh Chaturthi is. To understand the same, here is the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi and how it is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated in India.

What is Ganesh Chaturthi

While now Ganesh Chaturthi is surely celebrated as one of the most celebrated festivals, let us know what Ganesh Chaturthi is and how it actually originated. It was during the era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the festival Ganesh Chaturthi was first publicly celebrated to unite the people against their fight with the Mughals. The tradition of celebrating the festival was then revived by the Indian freedom fighter, economist, and nationalist Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. With the idea of creating consciousness about all the various cultures in India and uniting all castes, Tilak promoted public celebrations, which are now also called Ganeshotsav.

The most widely celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi also has a wonderful story behind it. Well, according to legends, it was through lay and dirt that Maa Parvati created Lord Ganesha. She had made him guard her place while she rested inside. Lord Shiva, who was returning after quite a few days, did not recognize this child who was guarding his wife’s quarters. Shiva hence demanded that he be permitted to enter and meet with the Goddess. Lord Ganesha, however, refused. This led to a strong battle between the two and led to Lord Ganesha’s beheading.

Looking at the headless boy, Parvati Maa became infuriated and asked Shiva to bring him back to life at any cost. Lord Shiva realized his mistake and promised Parvati that he would live. He then requested Devas to find the head that flew North. They brought back an elephant’s head, which was fitted onto the headless child, resulting in Ganesha. This event is now celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi.

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

Called by almost 108 names, Ganesha has various names such as Vignaharta, Vinayaka, Gajanana, and others. Lord Ganpati is worshipped for prosperity, good fortune, happiness, and wisdom. To commemorate the birth of Lord Ganpati, the auspicious 10-day festival is celebrated annually between August and September. With dates varying annually, this festival usually comes after the Amavasya or new moon, which is observed during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada during Shukla Paksha.

This festival of excitement, joy, and enthusiasm holds excellent significance all over the world. It involves performing puja, arti, and other rituals with dedication and devotion. Many devotees tend to pray and observe fast to fulfil their desires, get rid of marital issues, and set themselves free from sins.

How is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated

Ganesh Chaturthi is definitely one of the major festivals celebrated and observed by Hindu people. In general, people tend to bring an idol of Lord Ganpati to their homes and tend to worship for about ten days, and on the 11th day, the Ganesh Visarjan takes place. This immersion of Ganesh Visarjan of Lord Ganesha in some of the local water bodies is both a colourful and musical occasion. When a local club organizes the festival, they tend to bring in large Ganpati idols and continue with music, dance, and cultural shows for about 11 days. This nonstop celebration is one of the lively occasions that people look up to spend quality time with their families.

In India itself, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on a large scale in many places, such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. However, there have been a few changes in the way it is celebrated.

In the homes of Maharashtra, the families tend to install small clay statues of Ganpati to be worshipped during the festival. Ganesh Chaturthi decorations such as flowers and durva or young grass are offered during the Arti sessions. Modak is also offered during this ritual, which is one of the Ganesh Chaturthi sweets and one of Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweets. The Marathi Aarti, named “Sukhakarta Dukhakarta”, is sung in honour of Lord Ganpati. There is also a celebration of Gauri where idols of Gauri are installed, which is also the other name for Devi Durga.

In Tamil Nadu, this festival is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi. According to the Tamil calendar, it falls on the fourth day after the new moon in the month of Avani. After worshipping, the idol is immersed in the Bay of Bengal.

In Thiruvananthapuram, there is a parade march from the Pazhavangade Ganpati Temple to Shankumugham Beach, with huge Ganpati idols. Over here, the milk is also immersed along with the idol of Ganesh.  

How is Ganesh Chaturthi Around the World

Apart from our Indian celebrations, celebrations are conducted on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi all around the world, where Hindu culture is prevalent.

The UK is one of the major places where Indian immigrants live, and the Hindu Culture and Heritage Society tends to celebrate this festival in the Vishwa Hindu Temple. It started in 2005, and the idol is immersed in the Thames at Putney Pier.

Many people also follow the festival in Thailand. Interestingly, many of these followers are non-Hindus. The main celebration takes place in Bangkok. The Nakhon Nayok temple, situated about 106 km from Bangkok, also has one of the tallest idols in all of Southeast Asia, standing 38 ft.

Celebrations are also held in small pockets of France. The main celebration is held in the Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam temple in Paris. A big procession dressed in traditional attire is observed.

Grand celebrations can also be seen during the festival period in Canada, North America, Singapore, and Mauritius.

Meaning of Ganesh Visarjan

Visarjan is nothing but the ritual of immersing Lord Ganesha in a water body. It is done to mark the beginning of Lord Ganpati to his heavenly home. However, why do you need to carry out Visarjan, and why can’t the same idol be used for puja next year? Well, the Visarjan that is conducted usually symbolizes both the birth and death of Lord Ganesha. It celebrates the reality of life, which is surrounded by two facts. Moreover, the Visarjan represents the concept of destruction because nothing is permanent, and that change is the only constant thing. Therefore, Visarjan is a constant reminder that everyone who is born on this planet shall, in fact, one day perish.

Moreover, the reason idols are immersed in water also has a profound meaning. The ocean or the water body usually indicates the infinite God and the idol is the soul trying to seek salvation. The immortal soul leaves behind its mortal body to unite with God by completely surrendering itself.

On the day of Ganesh Visarjan, the family gathers to perform one last puja. Diyas are lit up, incense sticks are lit, flowers are arranged, modaks are prepared, and ladoos are made. The puja concludes with the waving of camphor flame in front of the idol.

The head of the family then sprinkles turmeric rice on the idol and does a namaskar.

The eldest male member then touches the idol for blessings and moves it to mark the start of the farewell journey.

To bid him farewell, one must also offer sweets and curd to Lord Ganesha. The family also prepares small bundles of rice and cereals to accompany him on his journey to his abode.

The family members continue chanting the shlokas. The designated male member then carries the idol around the house for a final round. Once the family members gather around the Visarjan spot, they respectfully immerse the idol into the water body while also chanting the names of Ganesha and slogans.

Conclusion

Ganesh Chaturthi is surely one of the most epic festivals celebrated not just in India but all around the world. Huge idols are placed in public places for everyone to pay respect, and Visarjan tends to take place on the tenth day. The idol is carried to the shore and then sunk into the water with a grand festive procession. This marks a new beginning with Lord Ganesha’s blessings. Celebrating our culture sure sounds great, so let’s also be mindful when buying idols and choose eco-friendly idols to save our water ecosystem!

FAQ:

Can we keep Ganpati for 3 days?

Yes, most normal celebrations last three days, but this can vary based on personal preferences and family traditions.

How can I make my Ganesh Chaturthi celebration eco-friendly?

To ensure you celebrate the festival while respecting environmental sustainability, you can opt for eco-friendly decorations made of organic materials such as natural fibres, paper, or cloth.

What preparations are needed for Ganesh Chaturthi?

Here are a few of the preparations you might need to make for Ganesh Chaturthi

  • A chowki or a low wooden platform to place the idol
  • Hibiscus or any other type of flowers
  • Durva
  • Modaks and laddoos
  • Kheer, barfi, and blog
  • Kumkum, Haldi, Chandan

What are some modern trends in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi?

Here are a few of the modern trends in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi

  • Indulging in eco-friendly idols and items
  • Creating a beautiful pooja mandir for home
  • Dhol bands that liven up the farewell atmosphere.

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