Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days every year. But very few of us know the importance of Ganesh Chaturthi.
A Hindu Festival
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindu community all over the world to honour the God Ganesha’s birthday, the younger son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
According to Hindu mythology, it is said that any ritual is incomplete without worshiping God Ganesha in beginning. Another important fact about God Ganesha is that he is known by 108 different names.
The most famous names are Ganapati or Vinayaka.
Its God Ganesha’s Birthday Celebration
So let’s start with how Ganesh was born. According to the story while Goddess Parvati was having a bath, she created Ganesha out of dirt off her body. She than set him to guard her door. During that time Lord Shiva was away. When he returned back, he saw Lord Ganesha was guarding at the door. As Ganesha didn’t know him, he stopped God Shiva from entering. This angered God Shiva and he cut off the head of Ganesha after a combat. Seeing this Goddess Parvati was very angry. God Shiva promised her again that Ganesha will live again. God Shiva then asked her devas to head north and find head of a dead person. The devas could manage only the head of an elephant. God Shiva then fixed the elephant’s head on the child Ganesha and brought him back to life.
This year, September 17th marks the beginning of this festival which is also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi.
Here are some quick facts about the festival
The festival begins on the 4th day of the waxing moon period also known as Shukla Chaturthi. The festival ends on Anant Chaturdashi, the 14th day of the waxing moon period. In Maharashtra Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated at grand scale. For celebrating the festival, colourful pandals are installed and God Ganesha is worshiped for 10 days.
The Rituals
4 important rituals are followed during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration.
Pranapratishhtha – The Sanskrit word pratiṣṭhā, means “resting” or “position”. It is the process of brought to inhabit a the deity into a murti or idol.
Shhodashopachara – There are 16 forms of praying God Ganesha. Priest perform these forms during prayer.
Uttarpuja – This ritual is performed before Ganpati Visarjan. After it’s infusion, statue of God Ganesha could be shifted.
Ganpati Visarjan – This is the final and most grand ritual. Friends and family get together in large number for the immersion of the idol of Lord Ganesh in the water.
The Modak
One of the most favourite food during festival is Modak. It is a sweet prasaad made of rice or flour filled with coconuts, grated jaggery and dry fruits. According to rituals there should be twenty one pieces of Modak in a plate.
The Long History and Importance in Freedom Movement
Since the era of Maratha King Shivaji Maharaj, Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated as a public event. But it was Bhausaheb Laxman Javale who installed first Sarvajanik (Public) Ganesh idol in 1892 at Bhudwar Peth, in Pune.
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak praised the idea and in 1894, he installed Ganesh idol in Kesari wada, Pune. Mr. Tilak realized the cultural and national importance of God Ganesha. He thus played a critical role in popularising Ganesha Chaturthi as a National Festival. This helped in bridging the gap between Brahamin and non-brahamin. This helped in uniting people of India for fighting against British.