L'ecole de La Maison de Krishna

Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the major
festivals celebrated by Hindus across
the world with great devotion,
enthusiasm and is observed as one of
the most auspicious in the Hindu
Dharma. Bhgwan Ganesh or Ganesha
is highly revered and the most
worshiped deity by Hindus. Almost
all Hindu homes have the deity of
Ganesha. With an elephant head and
a huge belly, Ganesha is prominently
known as the remover of vighna
(obstacles) and for good fortune.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival in
honor of his birthday. Ganesh has 108
names and this festival goes with many names along the lines like Ganesh Chaturthi,
Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganapati Chaturthi, Ganeshostav. Every year, Ganesh Chaturthi is
celebrated with a 10-day festival, during which four main rituals, namely Prana Pratishta,
Shodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan are performed. Festivities begin as
Ganesha deities, generally made of clay and decorated with fowers and lights, are set up
in homes and also at temporary public stages called pandals. Priests then conduct Prana
Pratishta, a ceremony in which mantras are recited, invoking Ganesha’s presence into the
clay deity, after which he is offered formal prayers in a 16-step worship called
Shodashopachara. During each day of the celebration, prasad, or food blessed by the deity,
is distributed throughout the community. Followers also meditate on the many aspects of
his form, which symbolize deeper spiritual truths, while many choose to observe fasts.

On the last day of the festival, Uttarpuja is performed, a ritual bidding Ganesha farewell.
After, he is carried in a public
procession with kirtan (devotional
music) to a nearby body of water
in which he is immersed. This
custom is Ganpati Visarjan, and it
symbolizes his return to Mount
Kailash, a peak in the Himalayas
where Shiva and Parvati are said
to reside. Ganapati Visarjan
processions are very famous
throughout Bharat. Just in Mumbai
city there are more than 75,000
public pandals set up every year.
All these Ganesh deities are taken
with huge public processions for
visarjan. Families also have
Ganesh deities in their homes for
Ganesh Chaturthi. Sometimes, families with no public water bodies nearby, immerse the
Ganesha deities in water containers in their backyard.
 We do not know exactly how far back in history
Ganesha Chaturthi has been observed with public
events. Some historians believe the festival became a
major public event in the 1600s when Indian king,
Shivaji Bhosale, frst sponsored the celebration.

The festival is said to have been revitalized later in

the 19th century as a symbol of India’s independence
movement, by freedom fghter Bal
Gangadhar Tilak. He said, “Swarj
(self-rule) is my birthright and I shall have it”. This became a slogan for
all freedom fghters. In 1892, the cities of Pune and Mumbai became
packed with devotees, despite the fact that such large gatherings were
not allowed by the British. The 10-day festival was celebrated with a
patriotic gusto fueled by a united deep devotion and love for
Ganesha. To this day, Hindu festivals continue to be celebrated with
similar pomp and fervor, signifying the everlasting power such
devotion can generate.

How to make Ganesha clay idol for Ganesh Caturthi

Step 1: Dividing the clay

Take the modeling clay in your hand and divide it into proportions for different body parts of
Ganesha.
Step 2: Make the stomach and the base

Flatten the modeling clay you set aside for the base, like you would roll out a roti. Flatten the clay
in such a way that it can hold the rest of the idol in place. Insert a toothpick in the middle of this
modeling clay base, to hold the stomach in place. This will ensure that the structure stays in place
even after drying. Use water to add a little moisture wherever necessary, while shaping your clay.

Step 3: Make the legs

Roll two pieces of modeling clay for making legs. Lightly press at the bottom of the legs to make
the shape of feet.
Step 4: Make the hands

Connect the legs to the stomach and the pedestal using toothpicks. Press these into place well
enough so that the joints are not visible. Once you are satisfied with the way these parts are securely
connected together, roll out the shapes of arms out of the modeling clay set aside for the same.

Step 5: Connect the hands to the body

Bend the pieces at the end slightly to give the shape of hands, as shown in the images below.
Step 6: The arms

Attach the arms to the body as shown in the image below.

Step 7: The head of Ganesha

Roll the modeling clay into a round shape for the head. Place the head on the body.
Step 8: The ears and trunk of Ganesha

Shape two pieces of modeling clay to make the ears. You can use the image below as a reference.
Similarly, take the clay and shape it into a trunk.

Step 9: Designing Ganesha’s features

Using a toothpick, draw the features on the Ganesh idol. Gently flatten the ears.
Step 10: Decorating the Ganesh idol

To make the crown, first roll out the modeling clay like a roti, about 6 cm in diameter. Once you are
done rolling it out, use tools like a pen cap, a toothpick to make patterns on the crown. Allow this to
dry. Place it on the Ganesh idol with some wet clay. Set the idol aside to dry off.

Children's Corner - Arts & Crafts - Toran Making

Door decors have traditionally great
importance in our life. In any season, you can
decorate your home door in a traditional way,
more so during festival times. It is an easy and
interesting activity to make ‘Torans’ at home.
Time For the activity: 15-20 min
Things needed: Green colored craft paper,
cord / string, foam flowers, glue, glitter and
scissor
How to make: Usually, Torans are made from the fresh flowers and leaves. But, we are going to
make leaves from craft paper and use foam flowers.
Step 1: Fold a 16" square green colored craft paper in such a way that 4 folds are made on top of
one other. Draw a leaf on the paper with pencil and carefully cut the leaf shape with scissor. Draw a
vine on each leaf with the glue and put the glitter on it. Now the leaf is ready with the glittered
vines. This step will make 4 leaves. Make as many as you might need.
Step 2: Tie the leaves to the cord at equal distance from each other. In between the two leaves, glue
or staple the foam flowers on the cord. You can decorate the flowers with another small flower or
with glitter.
Your toran is ready for hanging.
Children's Corner - Arts & Crafts – Altar decorations

Colour and cut out to decorate your pop-up Ganesha altar for Ganesha
Cuturthi 2021!!!!