For Hindus across India and the world, Lord Ganesh is known as one of the most important deities for being the Vighnaharta or “remover of obstacles”. Also known as Lord Vinayak and Lord Pillaiyar, Lord Ganesh is therefore worshipped at the beginning of all ventures to turn them auspicious. But the most significant festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh in India is the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi. Celebrated with great aplomb in states like Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and Karnataka, Ganesh Chaturthi will be held on 19 September 2023. Here is everything you need to know about the festival.
History Of Ganesh Chaturthi
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Legends say that Lord Shiva, once angered, cut off Lord Ganesh’s head and then replaced it with that of an elephant to console the grieving Goddess Parvati. This is the reason why Lord Ganesh is always depicted with an elephant head, a well-built body and four arms. Called Ekdanta, Lambodara and by many other names, Lord Ganesh is believed to make people’s fortunes and remove calamities and obstacles on their way.
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For those unaware, mythology suggests that Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. In many states across India, Ganesh Chaturthi is usually celebrated on only one day—in others, Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival which celebrates not only the birth of this elephant-headed deity but also other legends associated with him. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 19 September 2023 and the 10-day festival will end on Anant Chaturdashi, which falls on 28 September 2023.
Significance Of Ganesh Chaturthi
Since Lord Ganesh is seen as the god of all things auspicious, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great fervour across India. The festivities, which usually last for 10 days, begin with the ritual of Prana-Pratishtha where a priest invokes the spirit of the deity into an idol. In states like Maharashtra, every family brings home an idol of Lord Ganesh for the Prana-Pratishtha ceremony. This is followed by 10 days of worshiping the deity.
As a festival, Ganesh Chaturthi does not involve long and arduous fasting periods. Instead, the focus is on offering Lord Ganesh his favourite foods like modak, coconuts, fruits, flowers and doing an aarti while chanting appropriate prayers. Devotees indulge in specially crafted foods and feasts that are beloved by Lord Ganesh. In the states of India where Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival, communities come together to build decorated pandals or mandaps where not only are daily aartis and bhogs offered to Lord Ganesha, but so are dance and music performances.
Unlike many Hindu deities, Lord Ganesh is known for his love of food and especially sweet treats. This is the reason why he is always depicted with laddoos and modaks in his hands. For Ganesh Chaturthi, it is therefore a must that offerings of modaks, motichoor laddoos, besan ladoos, sweet puran poli, and other such dishes be made to the deity and then shared as prasad. Many other dishes, like saranachi puri, satori, etc are also prepared with sweet stuffings to offer to Lord Ganesh.
On the final day of Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Anant Chaturdashi, the idols of Ganesh are immersed in water bodies like rivers, lakes and the sea. The entire 10-day ritual signifies the cycle of life, beginning with the birth of Lord Ganesh to the day when he returns to his home, Mount Kailash, after the Ganesh Visarjan. This year, Anant Chaturdashi or Ganesh Visarjan will take place on 28 September 2023.