In Hinduism, Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day celebration held in the honor of Lord Ganesh. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, it is a vibrant and joyous festival celebrating the birth of elephant headed Hindu deity, Lord Ganesh- the God wisdom and prosperity, remover of obstacles (Vignaharta). Lord Ganesh is also known as the God of new beginnings and celebrating this beautiful festival is believed to bring good fortune, wealth, knowledge and happiness to people. Ganesh Chaturthi begins on the 4th day (chaturthi) of the Bhadrapada (August-September), the sixth month of the Hindu Calender and ends on the 14th day
BIRTH OF LORD GANESHA
Lord Ganesh is one of the most beloved deities in Hinduism and his birth is celebrated with much vigor and enthusiasm. He is the son of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. The story of Lord Ganesh’s birth is mentioned in “Shiva Purana”, according to which when Lord Shiva was away for a long time from Mt.Kailash on one of his meditative wanderings as he was a vagabond, Goddess Parvati had no contact with him and grew lonely. Out of her loneliness and a longing to create her own child, to care for, her maternal instincts took over. Goddess Parvati used the sandalwood paste she was using from her own body mixing it with the soil of where she was sitting and crafted a sculpture of a child and breathed life into it with her powers hence Lord Ganesh was born. Lord Ganesh’s creation by Goddess Parvati is the ultimate act of feminine divinity and maternal love.
HOW DID LORD GANESH OBTAIN HIS ELEPHANT HEAD?
A few years after Lord Ganesh’s creation, his mother Goddess Parvati asked him to stand on guard the entrance while she is taking a bath. Lord Shiva, unaware of his son’s existence as he was away from Mt. Kailash, returned home after a long time from his meditative wanderings. When he went to meet his consort, Goddess Parvati, he was barred from entering by the unfamiliar little boy. Lord Shiva explained that he was her husband but the child was firm in his decision honoring his promise to his mother to guard her. Angered by the boy’s behavior, Lord Shiva in his divine fury beheaded the child with his Trishul (Trident) instantly killing him. When Goddess Parvati saw her husband beheaded her dear son, she was devastated and inconsolable with grief and grew enraged. In her grief and anger, Goddess Parvati decided to destroy all creation.
Lord Shiva realizing his grave mistake promised his consort that he will revive their son and ordered his ganas (his companions) to bring the head of the first creature they find facing north. The ganas found the head of an elephant, a creature known for strength and wisdom. Lord Shiva placed the head of the elephant on his son reviving him and bestowed upon him the boon of being the leader of all ganas and thus Lord Ganesh becomes “Gananayaka”.
WHY IS LORD GANESH REFERED TO AS “PRATHAM PUJYA”?
“Pratham Pujya” means the one to be worshipped first among all Gods and it is a divine title bestowed upon Lord Ganesh. There is an interesting legend associated to how this came to be. Lord Ganesh and his elder brother Lord Kartikeya (God of War) were having an argument over who is the wisest among the two of them. Lord Narada to conclude their argument advised them to have a simple competition to decide who is the wisest. The competition was a race in which the first one to circle the worlds three times will be the winner.
Lord Kartikeya mounted his Vaahan (vehicle), a peacock, and flew away fast to circle the earth. Lord Ganesh’s Vaahan was a little mouse and he had a big belly so he knew speed would be an issue for him. Lord Ganesh simply closed his eyes, folded his hands in prayer and circled his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati three times. When Lord Narada questioned him on this action, he answered that to him his parents were his whole world. Lord Shiva was delighted with his son’s wisdom and devotion, declared him as the winner and also granted him the title of the “Lord of New Beginnings” and declared that he will be worshipped first before all the Gods at the start of any auspicious ceremony or function.
Lord Ganesh embodies knowledge, strength and a strong will to overcome all obstacles and that is why it is significant that we worship him first before any auspicious event in our lives.
CELEBRATIONS AND RITUALS OF GANESH CHATURTHI
It is unknown when was the first time Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated but it is believed that this festival was largely celebrated and popularized by the Peshwas (hereditary Chief Ministers) of the Maratha Empire in the 18th Century though historians believed that the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi could be traced back to ancient India. The Peshwas considered Lord Ganesh their family deity and continued the tradition of celebrating his birth with much enthusiasm but the British banned any big celebrations and public gatherings during their rule in India. It was freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak also lovingly known as Lokmanya Tilak who revived the festival. In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak saw the festival as a beautiful way to unite the nation and resist the restrictions on Indian celebrations by the British. He took the private celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi in people’s homes to a public celebration by placing massive statues and hoardings of the Lord in Mumbai pavilions where everyone from any community was welcomed to peacefully worship Lord Ganesh together.
The festival begins with placing an idol of Lord Ganesh usually crafted with clay, on a raised platform decorated with colorful flowers, diyas and lights in people’s homes or Pandals (a fabricated structure). Chanting the “Prana Pratishtha” (infusion of life) mantras follow it, which is a ritual to invoke life into the idol and that is followed by “Shodashopachara” which is 16 ways of praying tribute to a Hindu deity. Vedic Hymns from “Ganesh Upanishad” are sung and the idol of Lord Ganesh is anointed with yellow and red flowers, turmeric and natural vermilion and red sandalwood paste. Lord Ganesh is offered his favorite food modaks (sweet dumplings) along with coconut and jaggery.
For the next 10 days, morning and evening prayers are held for Lord Ganesh where devotees joyfully sing Bhajans (devotional songs) and Kirtans (chanting), offer sweets, modak and flowers to him.
On Anant Chaturdashi, the Ganesh idol is carried in a huge procession with devotional singing, drums and dancing to a local water body like a lake or river to be immersed in water (Visarjan). This ritual symbolizes Lord Ganesh’s journey to his home MT. Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that he takes his devotees pain and hard times away with him.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a vibrant festival of prosperity and hope where the grand celebrations unite communities together in devotion and faith. Ganesh Chaturthi begins this year on 27th August 2025. The Chaturthi Tithi starts on August 26 at 1:54 PM and ends on August 27 at 3:44 PM and the Madhyahna Puja Muhurat (auspicious time for worship) is said to be in the afternoon by 1:40 PM.
A very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to our lovely readers.
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