Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayak Chaturthi, is the festival celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesh. He is worshipped as the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi arrives with the second wave of the great Indian monsoon, on the fourth day of the bright fortnight, in the Hindu month of Bhaadra (August – September). Lord Ganesh is said to shower his choicest blessings on His devotees during this festival.
About Lord Ganesh
Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. He has an elephant head and his vehicle is a mouse. The scriptures relate an absorbing story of how He got His elephant head. Parvati created the form of Ganesh out of sandalwood paste that she used for her bath. She gave life to the form, and was overjoyed to have such a lovely child. She asked Him to guard Her door while She was inside Her room. When her husband Lord Shiv returned, the child who had never seen Him refused to let Him in. Lord Shiv was angry at the boy and severed the head of the child. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was very sad and asked Her Lord to revive Him. Lord Shiv ordered His forces to fetch the head of the first animal that crossed their path. The group saw an elephant first, and cut its head. Lord Shiv fixed the head on Ganesh, and that is how He came to have and elephant-head.
People worship Lord Ganesh as the remover of obstacles. They also worship Him as Lord of auspicious beginnings and the God of prosperity. He is invoked for auspiciousness before beginning any work. People worship Him at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies. They also invoke Ganesh during writing sessions, as He is considered as the Lord of intellect and wisdom.
Celebration
The preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi start one month in advance. The festival begins with the installation of Ganesh deities. The size of this deity may vary from one inch to over twenty-five feet. The deities are generally made of clay, or any other materials, ingeniously chosen by the devotees, and decorated beautifully. These deities are either kept at home or at a common gathering place in the locality.
People make offerings of modaks (sweetmeats made of rice flour, jaggery and lentils), coconut, hibiscus or any other red flower, sheaves of grass, vermilion, turmeric powder and rice. Modak is considered to be Lord Ganesh’s favorite food.
There is a famous legend in Hindu scriptures about Lord Ganesh’s modaks. It is said that Lord Ganesh loved modaks and simply could not stop himself from eating them. Amused by Ganesh’s liking for modaks, the beautiful moon made fun of the chubby God. Ganesh was so furious with the moon that He cursed him, saying that his beauty would never remain constant. Since that day, way back in time, the moon reveals itself in all its magnificence only once in 28 days.
Another legend has it that when Lord Ganesh saw the moon laughing at him, an angry Lord broke off one of His tusks and threw it at the moon. Seeing this, Mother Parvati, immediately cursed the moon that in future whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi day will be accused of a wrongdoing. Hence, Lord Ganesh is also known as ‘Ekadanta’ or the God with a single tusk.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are very lively and enthusiastic. Devotional songs, dances and drum beats are an important part of the occasion. Various cultural events are also held everywhere, and people participate with great interest in all these events. The celebrations continue for ten days.
On the 11th day, the deity is taken in a procession accompanied by dancing and singing, through the streets, to a river or the sea. The celebrations end with the immersion, symbolizing a “good bye” to the Lord on His journey towards His Divine abode, as He takes away with Him the misfortunes of humans. In Maharashtra, people parade the deities in long processions shouting cheerfully.
Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya
O Ganesh, my Father! Come again early next year.
After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the deity to the river or the seashore to immerse it.
Hindus all over India celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with great devotion. However, the festival is most popular in the state of Maharashtra. The long processions in Mumbai city are world famous. This festival is also elaborate in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Tamilians in Sri Lanka. A large number of Indian communities in the UK and USA celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm.
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