Ganesh Chaturthi is around the corner and it is the best time to visit Mumbai. Celebrated throughout the country, in a grand manner, Ganesh Chaturthi is very famous among Hindus. In 2019, the festival will begin on 2nd September and ends on 12th September. This festival is celebrated during the month of Bhadrapada, which spans from mid of August to mid of September. This festival spans for eleven days.
History of Ganesh Chaturthi - The history explains that the festival was initially celebrated around 14th or 15th century. However, the event become more popular during 18th century. In 19th century, the festival become a domestic festival, covering even non-brahmins too.
According to Mythology, Lord Parvathi created Ganesha out of dirt and made him guard her place. Shiva, who returned after many days, saw Ganesh guarding the palace and had no idea about who the child was. Shiva demanded that he should be let into the palace and Ganesh refused. After a strong battle between the two, Shiva beheaded Ganesh. When Parvathi returned and saw the headless boy, she was furious.
Shiva promised to make Ganesh live and asked his devas to search for any soul, which had its head facing the north. The search party came with an elephant head, which was placed on the headless boy. Thus, Ganesh was born. This is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi.
Some communities celebrate this festival to mark the birth of Mahabharata. It is said that Lord Ganesh wrote Mahabharata as Sage Vyasa recited it to him. Ganesh demanded the sage to recite it without any delay or pause. In the process, the writing instrument of Ganesh broke. Since he had no time to get a new one, he broke a part of his ivory and continued writing. It is said that the writing process went for 10 whole days. The duo strives to create the epic after ten days of struggles with no food, water or bath.
After the epic was completely written, on the eleventh day, clay was applied over Ganesh body and he was asked to take bath in a river. These ten days are celebrated during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and on the eleventh day, the idol is immersed into any water body.
How Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
The festival starts with locals trying to make an idol out of clay or buy one from the market. After proper rituals, the deity is placed either in home or in a small pandal (usually done in communities and colonies). Every day, special rituals, celebrations, music performances and other cultural activities are performed. Delicacies are served to everyone who visit the pandals.
On the eleventh day, a large procession takes place, in which, people take the idol towards sea or river (whichever is close by) and immerse the idol into the water. They watch the idol dissolving in the water. Later, they take bath in the water and return back home.
Rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
The festival includes four main rituals.
- Pranapratishhtha - Process of creating an idol. Those who buy idols, perform this ritual while placing the idol in the pandal or in their home, ready for prayers. People pray, sing devotional songs and certain communities perform musical concerts for this ritual.
- Shhodashopachara - Paying tribute to the idol. 16 types of prayers are performed during this ritual. This includes providing delicacies, decorating with flowers and others
- Uttarpuja - This ritual takes place right before the deity is taken from the position and placed ready for a procession towards any water body.
- Ganpati Visarjan - Immersing the idol into sea or river. This ritual indicates that God is everywhere and formless. It is also a reminder of the concept that nothing is permanent.
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