Ganesh Chaturthi🕉, A 10-day festival in Hinduism, marks the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. This grand celebration commences on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September), the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.
The festival begins with the installation of Ganesha idols on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents. The worship commences with the pranapratishtha, a ritual to invoke life in the idols, followed by shhodashopachara, or the 16 ways of paying tribute.
Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns from religious texts like the Ganesh Upanishad, the idols are anointed with red sandalwood paste and adorned with yellow and red flowers.
Ganesha is also offered coconut, jaggery, and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings), considered to be Ganesha’s favourite food.
The festival concludes with the idols being carried to local rivers in grand processions accompanied by drumbeats, devotional singing, and dancing. The immersion of the idols in the river symbolizes Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailas—the abode of his parents, Shiva and Parvati.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout the Indian subcontinent and by the Hindu diaspora worldwide.
It is a time of joy, devotion, and community, but also a time for reflection on the wisdom and prosperity that Ganesha represents. The festival serves as a reminder of the importance of new beginnings, the removal of obstacles, and the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.
The story of Ganesha’s birth and his acquisition of the elephant head is told in many different ways, varying by region and tradition. Regardless of the variations in the narrative, the essence remains the same: Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is revered as the remover of obstacles and the bringer of good luck, the patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.
Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a festival; it is a testament to the enduring faith and rich cultural heritage of Hinduism. It is a time when millions come together to celebrate wisdom, prosperity, and the power of new beginnings.
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