Ready for a festival that’s not only grand but also divine? Ganesh Chaturthi is here with all its vibrancy, music and stunningly crafted Ganesha idols. Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, celebrates Lord Ganesha’s birthday. Lord Ganesha is known for removing all obstacles in your path and is considered the God of new beginnings. But do you know the story behind this elephant-headed deity?

The tale of Ganesha’s birth

Lord Ganesha is the son of Goddess Parvati, the goddess of fertility, and Lord Shiva, the mighty destroyer. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from clay and ghee and breathed life into him. She then asked him to guard the entrance while she bathed.

When Lord Shiva tried to enter his abode, Ganesha did not let him. Oblivious to their relationship, Lord Shiva and Ganesha got into a fierce battle where Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha. When Parvati found her son beheaded, she was inconsolable and told Lord Shiva what he had done. Upon knowing the truth, Lord Shiva promised to bring back Ganesha. He vowed to replace his son’s head with the head of the first creature that lay with its head facing the north. That’s how Lord Ganesha became the elephant-headed God. Upon his revival, Lord Shiva also granted Ganesha the status of a deity who would be worshipped before all other gods.

How do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?

Every year Lord Ganesha’s birth is celebrated as a 10-day festival and starts on the fourth day of Bhadrapada, which falls between August- September. Everyone prepares for it in advance by making clay idols of Lord Ganesha and then decorating them to keep them in their homes. The 10-day festival includes four rituals – Prana Pratishtha, the first day of the festival where life is invoked in the idol with chants. It is followed by Shodashapachara, a 16-fold ritual, where Lord Ganesha is offered 16 types of offerings. 

Then comes Uttarpuja, performed on the tenth day of the festival. During this, the idol is carried in a public procession accompanied by a kirtan. The 10-day festivities end with the Ganesh Visarjan, where the idol of Ganesha is immersed in water, representing his return to Mount Kailash. Ganesha Visarjan symbolises the life cycle and how everything in life is temporary.

In 2024, the Ganesh Chaturthi rituals will commence on Friday, September 6th, at 03:01 p.m. and conclude at 05:37 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17th. The Ganesh Visarjan is scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, 2024. 

Ganesha Chaturthi is not just a festival; it’s a cultural phenomenon. No matter where you’re in India, you can see how the festival brings everyone together. It encourages us to embrace new beginnings and come together to host activities like public pandals and community feasts.

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