Ganesh Chaturthi

What is Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most prominent Hindu Festivals that is celebrated throughout the country with great zeal and enthusiasm. This day marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha (son of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati). People also keep idols of Lord Ganesha at their homes during these 10 days and worship them whole-heartedly. Lord Ganesha represents wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune and it is believed that when Lord Ganesha visits an individual’s home then he bestows his devotee with all of these things. It is celebrated on the Shukla Chaturthi of the Bhadrapada month.

This festival ends after 10 days on Anant Chaturdashi. On the last day, the Ganesha idols are bid adieu and taken for the Ganesha Visarjan (immersing the idol in the water). People go for Visarjan dancing and singing with their friends and family. Competitions are held all over the country, where the local communities compete against each other. The competition is of putting the most attractive and impressive idol of Lord Ganesha. People thank Lord Ganesha for visiting their homes and spreading positivity all around.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2019 date in India Calendar:

Tithi Begins- 04:57 AM on Sep 02, 2019
Tithi Ends- 01:54 AM on Sep 03, 2019
Muhurat Timings- 11:04 AM to 01:35 PM (Duration: 2 hours 31 Mins.)
Ganesh Chaturthi 2019 Visarjan Date- Thursday, September 12, 2019.

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How is Ganesha Chaturthi celebrated:

• The festival starts when people install huge‌ ‌Ganesha statues at their home which are beautifully decorated. Artisans put a lot of effort and hard work in preparing these statues. One should not look at the moon on the first night as it is considered inauspicious.
• When the statue is installed, a proper ceremony is undertaken to welcome Lord Ganesha at home and ask for his blessings. This ritual is known as the Prana Pratishhtha Puja, wherein people offer sweets, flowers, jaggery, coconut, and coins to the lord. Prayers are devoted to Lord Ganesha and in the temples, special events and Pujas are organized during the festivities.
• Those who have an idol of Lord Ganesh at their homes, they treat them as a much-loved guest and worship them during the 10 days. The idols are being worshipped for the whole 10 days. On the last day (Ananta Chaturdashi), the statues are taken for Visarjan through the streets, accompanied by a lot of singing and dancing. Every year, in Mumbai alone, more than 1,50,000 statues are immersed in water.

The story behind Ganesha Chaturthi:

There are 2 legends which are associated with the birth of Lord Ganesha they are:

• The first one states that Ma Parvati created Lord Ganesha with the dirt off her body. When Ma Parvati was bathing she set Lord Ganesha to guard the door while she was bathing. Lord Shiva was out at that time and when he returned back Lord Ganesha didn’t allow him to enter due to which Lord Shiva became angry. Lord Shiva, then severed the head of Ganesha but when he got to know that Ganesha is his own son, he promised Ma Parvati that Ganesha will live again. After this, the Devas went in search of a head that can be fixed on the top of a dead person. They were only able to find an elephant’s head. Lord Shiva then placed the elephant’s head and brought back his son.
• The other story states that Lord Ganesha is a creation of both Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati and they created him on the request of the Devas. They wanted someone to take away all the obstacles therefore, Lord Ganesha is known as Vighnaharta.

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Significance of Ganesha Chaturthi:

• The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm especially in Western India, in particular, Maharashtra. The celebrations take place for 10 days and during all of these days, people keep an idol of Lord Ganesha in their home. Maharaja Chatrapati Shivaji was the first one to start the worship of Lord Ganesha and this was done as a non-community affair.
• Like as usual, this year also on Anant Chaturthi 2019 the people will go for the Visarjan with their loved ones, dancing, and singing. The devotees thank Lord Ganesha for coming to their home and spreading positivity, love, and happiness all around.

How to perform Ganesha Chaturthi Puja:

• Take a bath and keep the idol of Lord Ganesha on an altar. Fold your hand in namaste formation and chant 'Om' at least thrice with your eyes closed. Chant the following Ganesh mantra. After you place the mukut on the idol, recite the mantra as given below, and ring the bell for 5 seconds:

  Asmin bimbe chitrapate Maha-Ganapataye Namah Vastrartha mukutam Samarpayami

• After chanting the mantra, the devotees pray to Lord Ganesha for blessings their life with virtue and new beginnings.

Mantra:

The following Mantras must be recited on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi Puja to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha:

‘Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Soorya Koti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam kuru Mein Deva Sarva Kaaryashu Sarvadaa’

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाया सोयता कोटि समप्रभा निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व सर्वेषु सर्वदा

Future Point wishes you a happy and prosperous Ganesha Chaturthi!