Ganesh Chaturthi – Special Info

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated every year. When compared to South India, it is celebrated in a very grand manner in North India. Will any of us know what is Ganesh Chaturthi and why is it celebrated?

What is Ganesh Chaturthi and why its celebrated?

Ganesh Chaturthi commonly known as Vinyakar Chathurthi is one of the most famous Hindu festival to celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha is the first son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.

Ganesha is considered as the Lord of Arts & Sciences and Deva of Wisdom. In all ceremonies and rituals, Ganesha is honoured.

Birth of Lord Ganesha

Birth of Ganesha is said in two different varieties based on the history. We can look into the first history now. Goddess Parvathi created Ganesha with her dirt to guard until she completes her bath. Lord Shiva returned to the place at the time. But Ganesha, who was unknown of Lord Shiva stopped him from entering. Shiva became angry and separated the head of Ganesha.

Goddess Paravathi who came out of bathing became angry after seeing dead Ganesha. Shiva promoised Parvathi to make Ganesha alive. The devas who were asked to get any dead person’s head facing north returned only with dead elephant’s head. Shiva joined the head of elephant with Ganesha and he came alive.

The other history says that Lord Ganesha is created by Shiva and Parvathi on the request of Devas to be an obstacle creator for Rakshasas and obstacle averter to Devas.

Facts of Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on 5^th September 2016 in this year. Grand celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi will be taking place in Maharashtra.

Colorful statues of Lord Ganesha are setup and is being worshipped for ten days. During this festival, there are four main rituals

·         Pranapratishtha – the process of infusing deity into an idol or murti

·         Shodashopachara – 16 forms of paying tribute to Lord Ganesha

·         Uttarpuja – Puja after the idol has been shifted after its infusion

·         Ganpati Visarjan – Immersion of idol in the river

Foods prepared

Modak, a sweet dish prepared from rice or flour stuffed with coconuts, dry fruits and jaggery with twenty one pieces is offered to Ganesha.

From the time of Maratha king Shivaji, the festival was celebrated as public event but Ganesh idol was first installed by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale. Lokmanya Tilak changed this festival from private celebration to grand public event in order to bridge the gap between Bramins and non-Bramins.

Lord Ganesha is also being worshipped by the peoples of Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, Afghanistan and China.

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