Overview

Ganesh chaturthi is one of the most popular festival celebrated on a grand scale in Maharashtra as the birthday of lord Ganesha who is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad.

In 2011 this festival falls on September 1.

This festival was recognised into a large, well organised public event by Indian Freedom Fighter Lokmanya Tilak. Tilak encouraged installing Ganesha idols in houses & pandals to worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idols were taken out ceremoniously, through the streets of the town (especially in Maharashtra) and immersed into the river, sea or well.

Rituals are Performed During Ganesh Chaturthi

After Ganesha Statue is installed a ceremony is undertaken to invoke the holy presence of the statue during which numbe of mantras are recited. This ritual is known as Pranapratishhtha puja.Homes are decorated with dazzling lights and fresh flowers. Coconuts, 21 Modakas (sweets), 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass, red flowers and many other fruits and sweets are offered. Kumkum and Sandalwood pastes are used on the statue of the deity. Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha every day during the festival. Aarti is perfomed 2 times in a day for lord ganesha.

On Completion of 10 days

On the Tenth day, Lord Ganesha’s Idol is taken into a procession, where devotees dance and sing to their heart’s content. Throughout the procession, people yell ‘Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya’ which means ‘O Father Ganesh! Come again early next year’. Eventually, the idol is immersed in the sea.