GANESH CHATURTHI
Known For: Energy Of Power
Religion: Hindu
Falls On: August-September
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu
festivals. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and is known as the day
most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright
fortnight of Bhadrapada (August - September). It is observed throughout
India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world.
Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in any
prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun,
before any kind of worship is begun. He is the Lord of power and wisdom.
He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or
Kartikeya. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons
the sterling virtues of Ganesha.
The Elephant Headed God
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord
Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the
mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him
not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva
Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the
gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha
was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her
grief Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of
any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The
servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that
position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought
before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of
Ganesha.
Lord
Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings,
marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship
of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of
Bhadnpada.
Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be
achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or
blessing.
The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: "Dhoomraketu",
"Sumukha", "Ekadantha", "Gajakarnaka", "Lambodara",
"Vignaraja", "Ganadhyaksha", "Phalachandra",
"Gajanana", "Vinayaka", "Vakratunda", "Siddhivinayaka",
"Surpakarna", "Heramba", "Skandapurvaja", "Kapila"
and "Vignesh Wara". Many devotees also address him as "Maha-Ganapathi".
His Mantra is "Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah". Spiritual aspirants
who worship Ganesha as their tutelary deity repeat this Mantra or Om Sri
Ganeshaya Namah.
In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated
into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the
alphabet taught.
The Puja
Ganesh Chaturthi is the most important of all Maharashtrian
festivals, and is celebrated with great aplomb amongst Marathi communities
worldwide. On the occasion of the Ganapati festival a large number of
images are made of all possible sizes, and people buy them to keep in
their houses as a divine guest for one and a half, five, seven, or ten
days, after which the image is taken out ceremoniously and thrown into the
river, sea or well for immersion or "Visarjan". The idol should
not be kept after this day, as it is considered inauspicious.
The
Puja can be a simple one performed with family members within the
household and to the accompaniment of a cassette of Shri Ganesh mantras,
or an elaborate one, involving a priest who would come home and perform
the puja. 'Modak' is the most famous and most typical food preparation of
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
As long as the Ganesh idol is at home, Aarti is performed morning and
evening (dusk, or at the hour when artificial lamps are lighted in the
house). At the same time, all the members present throw Kumkum on the
idol.
After the Aarti, flowers, Haldi and Kumkum are offered to the women, and
Prasad (made of dried desiccated coconut mixed with castor sugar) is
distributed to all those present. During Ganesh Chaturthi, Aarti is
performed five times: to the Ganesh idol, followed by Vitthal, Shankar
(Shiva), Devi (Parvati) and Dattatreya (Kartikeya). The Aarti ends with a
"Mantra Pushpanjali".
The Celebrations
During the festivals day's beautifully sculpted Ganesh
idols are installed in the Mandaps (large tents) that are colourfully
decorated, depicting religious themes or current events. There are huge
public displays of Ganesh idols with Aarti (song of devotion to God) and
loud music and dancing by the devotees.
This activity is most popular in Bombay and Pune, with "Shrimant
Dagadu Shet Halwai Ganapati" in Pune being the main attraction of the
Utsaav. Many cultural events are organised and people participate in them
with keen interest. On the tenth day, huge processions carry images of the
God to be disposed off into the water, hoping for them to return early
next year. When the idols are immersed in the water, people sing, "GANPATI
BAPPA MORYA, AGLE BARAS TO JALDI AA," ("Father Ganpati, Next
Year Come Again.").
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