Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Celebration

Ganesha is considered to be the Lord of all Creatures, the Lord of Success, and the Lord of
Education, Knowledge and Wisdom. Every year the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated with
great zeal. It is an 11-day festival that commences on Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha in the month
of Bhadrapada and ends on Anant Chaturdashi according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It usually falls
in the month of August or September. It is a day celebrating the creation of a little boy, Ganesh, by
his mother, Parvati, as a personal gana. Popular belief has it that Ganesh visits earth during these
11 days to bless his devotees.
Preparation for the festival begins months earlier, with artisans crafting clay idols of Ganesh in
different sizes. These idols are placed in homes or specially decorated pandals. The idol is
worshipped, morning and evening, with simple recitations of devotional songs, offerings of flowers,
incense and lamps. Daily puja with aarti and chanting of mantras are performed in the pandals. Lord
Ganesha is offered with a special sweet called modakas. Devotees also offer incense, fruits, flowers,
etc., to showcase their love and devotion towards God. The atmosphere is filled with joy and cheer,
and chanting of Ganapati Bappa Morya. Ganesh Chaturthi festival ends with the Visarjan or
immersion of the idols in water. Devotees dance and sing as they bid farewell and pray for the
deity’s early return the following year.

Story Behind Ganesh Chaturthi

There are two different stories related to Ganesha’s birth. One is that the Goddess Parvati created
Ganesha out of her body dirt when she was taking a bath. She said to Ganesha to guard her door
while she finishes her bath. At that time, Lord Shiva was returning home after a long time completing
his meditation. Ganesh didn’t know Shiva, so he stopped him from entering the gate. On this, Shiva
became angry and cut down the head of Ganesha after a long combat. When Parvati came to know
this, she got enraged. This worried everyone, and they requested Shiva to find a solution and calm
the rage of Goddess Kali. Shiva then ordered his ganas to get him the head of the first living
creature they could find. Ganas found the elephant as the first living creature and brought his head.
Shiva fixed the elephant’s head on the child and brought him back to life. This elephant-headed god
was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which
means the chief of the ganas or the attendants of Shiva.
The other story is that Ganesha was created by Shiva and Parvati at the request of the Devas to
help them and to be a Vighnaharta in the path of rakshasas.
Lord Ganesha brings peace, happiness, and prosperity to everyone’s life. The festival symbolizes
togetherness as thousands of people come together to celebrate this festival. Happy Ganesh
Chaturthi!