Ganesha Chaturthi, also called VinayakaChavithi, is an auspicious Hindu festival which is celebrated for 10 days everyyear. The festival is celebrated in the Bhadra month as per the Hindu calendarwhich generally falls in mid-August to September. It marks the birthday of thebeloved elephant-headed Lord Ganesha.
Although the festival is observed across thecountry but it is celebrated with much pomp and fervour in the states ofMaharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha, Goa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and UttarPradesh.
Significance of Ganesha Chaturthi
It is believed that in these 10 days Lord Ganeshagraces the earth and brings happiness, wisdom and prosperity for his devotees. GaneshaChaturthi is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, which iscelebrated as per the Hindu calendar in the Bhadrapada month.
The elephant-headed Lord Ganesha is known forwealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdom and prosperity. During this time, thepeople remember his wisdom and seek his blessings before starting any importantwork. Lord Ganesha has approximately 108 different names. He is also known asGajanana, Vinayaka, Vighnaharta among many others.
History
Lord Ganesha is Shiva and Parvathi’s son.There are a lot of different mythical tales around his birth but there are twostories that are popularly believed.
According to one of the popular stories,Goddess Parvati made Lord Ganesha out of the dirt to protect herself in LordShiva’s absence. She asked Lord Ganesha to guard her washroom door while shewent in to take a bath. Lord Shiva returned home. They did not know each otherand got into a rift. Fuming in anger, Lord Shiva chopped Ganesha’s head.Goddess Parvathi was enraged by this act. In an attempt to cool GoddessParvathi, Lord Shiva asked Devas to search for Ganesha’s head and fix it. Thedevas searched everywhere but all they could find was just an elephant’s head.Shiva fixed that head on the body and that is how Ganesha was born.
Date of Ganesha Chaturthi
This year Ganesha Chaturthi will be startingon 10th September and will continue till 21st September 2021
Shubhmuhurat
The shubh muhurat will begin from 12.17 am to10 pm on 10 September. In fact, the best time to begin the puja will start from11.03 am to 01.33 pm on 10 September.
Puja Vidhi for Ganesha Chaturthi
It is believed that worshipping Lord Ganeshacan lead to the removal of obstacles from one’s life, making it peaceful andprosperous. The idol of the god, red cloth, water pot, coconut, cardamom,‘panchamrit’, ‘roli’, ‘akshat’, and ‘laung’ are needed for the rituals. Otheritems required for the puja include ‘supari’, ‘Kalavajaneoo’, ‘Chandi ka vark’,‘ghee’, ‘kapur’, ‘panchmeva’, ‘gangajal’, and ‘chaukee’.
Alsoread: Ganesha Chaturthi 2021: Shilpa Shetty Welcomes Home Lord Ganesha Idol With A Smile; See PICS
Foods prepared for Ganesha Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha’s love for good food is mentioned even in the books of mythology.It is believed that Lord Ganpati loved Modaks and Ladoos, this is the reasonwhy celebration of this festival is incomplete without sweet delights. Thereare several other sweet delicacies that are prepared and offered as a bhog tothe deity such as Kharvas, Srikhand, Basundi, Kheer, Rabri, Halwa.
Ganesha Visarjan
On the 10th day of Ganesha Chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi is observed, it is theday when devotees sing, dance and come together to bid farewell to the Lord Ganesha.The devotees gather up and hold huge processions for Ganesha Visarjan.