Ganesh Chaturthi

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha where the devotees bring home the Idols of Lord Ganesha for ten days. Lord Ganesha is known as the god of wisdom, good fortune, and travel. He is called by various names of love like- Gajanana, Gajdanta, and 108 other names. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most famous and celebrated festivals in India that begin form the 10 September this year. People decorate their houses and make Pandala for welcoming the statue of the idol.

BIRTH

There are a lot of stories associated with the birth of Lord Ganesha. But one such most prevalent story is where Goddess Parvati created Ganesha to guard her chambers. While Ganesha was doing his job sincerely Lord Shiva wanted to enter the chamber. Ganesha did not allow him inside which made Shiva furious and, he ended up cutting Ganesha’s head. When the goddess heard this she became infuriated and warned Shiva to make her son alive or else the consequences would be bad. Shiva sent people to find ahead but, after searching for hours no one could find the head and then finally they found it but, it was an elephant’s head. Shiva attached the elephant’s head to Ganesha's body and brought it to life.

CELEBRATION

The celebrations begin by bringing the sculpture of Ganesha home. Thereafter people can keep him home for 1.5,3,7 or 10 days. On the first day, houses are decorated with bright lights and colorful flowers, and the statute is installed. After that, families celebrate this festival with a lot of zeal and enthusiasm by holding pujas, singing songs about the lord, and cooking delicious food. They call all their friends and family for worshiping the idol. And, on the last day, the people carry the statue with their hands on the streets and enjoy with other people who also bought Ganesha home by dancing and singing with a lot of fervor. The idol is then finally immersed in a water body to show Lord Ganesha's journey to Mount Kailash where his mother Goddess Parvati and his father Lord Shiva reside. This day people exhibit a lot of people praying for good health and happiness and seek blessings of the lord for the new beginnings.

The commencement of the first day begins by bringing the idol home and installing the idol. Special dishes are made for the offering which is also called as bhog is offered and the idol is given a bath by water and then the idol is decorated with flowers and ornaments. Pooja is done wherein everyone sings bhajans and arti. The significance of singing is to call the lord to come to our house and give us his blessings.