Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated in India. Also known as Vinayaka Chavithi, Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, and is observed in the month of Bhaadrapada. Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations starts on the Shukla Chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period) and lasts for 10 days and ends on Anant Chaturdashi. In 2011, Ganesh Chaturthi festival is on 1st September 2011, Thursday.
The elephant-headed Ganesha, considered as the supreme God of Wisdom, is worshipped for prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesh is the 'remover of obstacles' and therefore he is called 'Vigneswar'. His vehicle is Mooshak (rat). Lord Ganesha, who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is believed to grant his presence on the earth on the auspicious occasion of Pillayar Chaturthi .
Though Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is celebrated throughout India, it is celebrated in a grand scale in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka also celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in a grand manner.
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations in India
It is the custom of the people to get clay models of Lord Ganesha, two to three months much in advance of Vinayak Chavithi festival. With the sizes ranging to over 25 feet, the beautifully decorated models portray the Lord in various poses. People install the statues in their homes. Rituals are performed throughout the ten days, from Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas (a sweet dish) and 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered to the deity. A cream made of vermillion and sandalwood paste is smeared over the statue. The statues are taken out ceremoniously in procession around the streets on the 11th day. Accompanied by drum-beats, Ganesha devotional songs and dances, the figures of Lord Ganesh are then immersed in a river or the sea. Modak (modagam or modakam in South India) is the main sweet dish prepared on the day. Some people also make karanji (karjikai in Kannada) for the deity.
Though Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is celebrated throughout India, it is celebrated in a grand scale in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka also celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in a grand manner.
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations in India
It is the custom of the people to get clay models of Lord Ganesha, two to three months much in advance of Vinayak Chavithi festival. With the sizes ranging to over 25 feet, the beautifully decorated models portray the Lord in various poses. People install the statues in their homes. Rituals are performed throughout the ten days, from Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas (a sweet dish) and 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered to the deity. A cream made of vermillion and sandalwood paste is smeared over the statue. The statues are taken out ceremoniously in procession around the streets on the 11th day. Accompanied by drum-beats, Ganesha devotional songs and dances, the figures of Lord Ganesh are then immersed in a river or the sea. Modak (modagam or modakam in South India) is the main sweet dish prepared on the day. Some people also make karanji (karjikai in Kannada) for the deity.
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