India being a vibrant land of diverse cultures, religions, and traditions, has one of the most celebrated festivals. One such festival that is celebrated by the Hindu religion, with much enthusiasm, particularly in the Southern parts of India is Ganesh Chaturthi. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, it marks the birth of Lord Ganesha.
The festival is spread across ten days where devotees immerse themselves in prayers, rituals, and celebrations for ten whole days. But do you know the significance of each of the ten days of Ganpati Puja? Read on to know the importance and also some of the traditional foods you can prepare each day for the auspicious festival.
Day 1: Ganesh Chaturthi
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will begin on 7th September 2024. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati was blessed with Lord Ganesha. So, in Indian homes, devotees bring a Ganesh idol on Ganesh Chaturthi and they offer 16 types of foods and worship. Some of the most significant sweets and savouries made on the first include Lord Ganesha’s favourite modak, laddoo, and puran poli.
Day 2-3: Worshiping And Offerings
The second and third day of Ganesh poojan continues the worshipping of the idol installed on the previous day. Devotees are known to follow a series of rituals like offering flowers, fruits, fruits and preparing bhog for Lord Ganesha. Typically, on these days, traditional dishes like khichdi and sweets made with coconut and gur (jaggery) are made.
Day 4-5: Community Celebration
The following two days are dedicated to telling tales of the birth of Lord Ganesha followed by His stories of removing obstacles from others’ lives. The devotees pray in groups and ask for His blessings to overcome their day-to-day challenges. Some popular offerings made for these days and community celebrations are Rava Laddoo, made with sooji, sugar, and ghee and Sunday, typically made with chickpeas, coconut, and mustard seeds.
Day 6: Ganesh Chaturthi Puja
The sixth day is known for holding a special puja, also known as “Rajan Ganpati.” It is usually held in groups where communities come together to pray, seek blessings, and indulge in traditional feasts. The community feasts usually include traditional Maharashtrian dishes like Thalipeeth, vada pav, coconut barfi, besan laddoo, and so on.
Day 7-8: Preparation For Immersion
Since the last day of Ganesh Pujan is all about visarjan, from day 7 onwards, devotees start making preparations. Communities chant mantras, sing bhajans, and pray to Lord Ganesha, make sweets like various types of barfi and laddoo for Goddess Parvati. These two days are all about building enthusiasm and excitement for Ganesh visarjan.
Day 9: Anant Chaturdashi
The ninth day marks the end of the festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi where the processions for the immersion of the Ganesha idol start. The visarjan symbolises the return of the Lord to the Kailash parvat (mountain), thus completing the cycle of life. The communities engage in traditional dances and celebrations with authentic dishes and sweets like modak, shrikhand, motichoor laddoo, and many more.
Day 10: Post Visarjan Ceremonies
After the grand Ganesha visarjan, the devotees get together to thank Lord Ganpati for blessing them. Ending the 10-day festival with a small puja, the communities have regional food like pithla bhakri, puran poli, vadas, and traditional sweets.