Ganesh Chaturthi; Ganeshotsav; Vinayka Chavithi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most celebrated hindu festivals in India. This 10 day festival is celebrated in the honour of Lord Ganesha’s Birthday
Some quick facts about the festival
- It begins on the fourth day of the waxing moon period called Shukla Chaturthi and ends on the 14th day of waxing moon called Anant Chaturdashi.
- Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on a grand scale in Maharashtra
- Colourful pandals are setup for 10 days to worship Lord Ganesha
- The ten day festival is divided into four main rituals-
- Pranapratishhtha – Infusing the deity into a murti or idol
- Shhodashopachara – 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha
- Uttarpura – A puja after which the infused idol can be shifted
- Ganpati Visarjan– immersion of the idol in the river
- The plate containing Modak is supposed to be filled with 21 pieces of the sweet
- At the time of Maratha King Shivaji, the festival was celebrated as a public event but a public Ganesha idol was first introduced by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale
- To bridge the gap between Brahmins and Non-Brahmins, Lokmanya Tilak changed the festival from a private celebration to a grand public event
- Lord Ganesha is also worshiped in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Nepal and China.
So on this occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi May the grace of God keep enlightening your lives and bless you always!
Source: India Today
