एकदंताय विद्महे, वक्रतुंडाय धीमहि, तन्नो दंती प्रचोदयात।।
Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated to honour the birth of Lord Ganesha, also known as the 'Vigna Harta', who removes obstacles from our lives. Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is the first god to be worshipped during Indian rituals or ceremonies. Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapada month, the sixth month in the Hindu calendar (August or September).
Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for about 11 days. It begins on Chaturthi when devotees place the statue of Lord Ganesha in their homes and temples. Various beautiful Lord Ganesha idols crafted from clay, plaster, and eco-friendly materials are available in the market during Ganesh Chaturthi.
People gather to sing songs and offer prayers to Lord Ganesha, with Ganesha Aartis being of prime importance and most enjoyed by devotees. Some of the most famous aartis sung in praise of Lord Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi are "Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh," "Sukhkarta Dukharta," and "Sindoor Laal Chadayo."
People offer Lord Ganesha his favourite dessert, Modak. These are sweet rice dumplings made with coconut and jaggery fillings. The festival wraps up on Anant Chaturdashi with Ganesh Visarjan, when Ganesha heads back home, taking all our troubles with him.
Ganesh Visarjan
On the day of Visarjan (immersion) the Ganesha idols are taken out in grand ceremonial parades. People bid goodbye to Lord Ganesha with music, dance, and slogans such as “Ganpati Bappa Morya” (Hail Lord Ganesha). Afterwards, the idols are immersed in rivers, lakes, or seas.
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
People of India eagerly wait for this festival all year. Although Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across the country, it is observed with the greatest enthusiasm in Maharashtra.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a reminder of the greatest truth that life is always changing and that every ending brings a new beginning. When Ganesha leaves, it marks the end of a fun celebration, but it also signals the start of a fresh journey for all of us.
Lord Ganesha inspires us to be intelligent, humble, and determined. We should never fear the obstacles in our path but face them with courage. And if we can't overcome them on our own, Lord Ganesha is always there to help us.
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