Ready for a festival that’s not only grand but also divine? Ganesh Chaturthi is here with all its vibrancy, music, and stunningly crafted Ganesh idols. Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, celebrates Lord Ganesh’s birth. Devotees all over India and abroad welcome Lord Ganesh to bless them with new beginnings, easing all their struggles and worries. People also regard him as Navasacha Ganpathi, wish-fulfilling Ganesh, as he grants what his followers desire. But do you know the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi 2025?

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The story behind Lord Ganesh’s birth

Lord Ganesh is the son of Goddess Parvati, the goddess of fertility, and Lord Shiva, the mighty destroyer. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati created Ganesh 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, Ganesh did not let him. Oblivious to their relationship, Lord Shiva and Ganesh got into a fierce battle where Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesh. 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 Ganesh. 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 Ganesh became the elephant-headed God. Upon his revival, Lord Shiva also granted Ganesh the status of a deity whom people will worship before all gods. And that’s why Ganesh Chaturthi holds major significance in Hinduism.

How do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?

Every year, people celebrate Lord Ganesh’s birth as a 10-day festival that starts on the fourth day of Bhadrapada, which falls between August and September. Everyone prepares for it in advance by making clay idols of Lord Ganesh to keep in their homes. The 10-day festival includes four rituals. On the day of Prana Pratishtha, saints invoke life in the idol with chants to welcome Lord Ganesh into homes and temples. It is followed by Shodashapachara, a 16-fold ritual, where Lord Ganesh is offered 16 types of offerings. 

Then comes Uttarpuja, performed on the tenth day of the festival. Devotees gather in a public procession carrying Lord Ganesh’s idol in their hands. They also organise a kirtan after the procession. The 10-day festivities end with the Ganesh Visarjan, where the idol of Ganesh is immersed in water, representing his return to Mount Kailash. Ganesh Visarjan symbolises the life cycle and how everything in life is temporary. Over a 10-day period, devotees visit pandals, relish prasad, and engage in vibrant performances to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.

In 2025, Ganesh Chaturthi rituals will be observed from August 27-September 6, 2025. Ganesh Visarjan is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025. 

Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a festival; it’s a cultural phenomenon. No matter where you are 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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