What is Ganesh Chaturthi? Why is it celebrated?

We celebrate this 10-day-long festival every year. But how many of us know what Ganesh Chaturthi is and why it is celebrated?

Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated to honour the elephant-headed God Ganesha's birthday, younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Ganesha is known by 108 different names and is the Lord of arts and sciences and the deva of widsom. He is honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies as he's considered the God of beginnings. He's widely, belovedly known as Ganapati or Vinayaka. 

There are two different versions about Ganesha's birth. One has it that Godess Parvati created Ganesha out of dirt off her body while having a bath and set him to guard her door while she finishes her bath. Shiva who has gone out, returned at that time, but as Ganesha didn't know of him, stopped him from entering. An angry Shiva severed the head of Ganesha after a combat between the two. Parvati was enraged and Shiva promised Ganesha will live again. The devas who went in search of a head facing north of a dead person could manage only the head of an elephant. Shiva fixed elephant's head on the child and brought him back to life.

The other legend has it that Ganesha was created by Shiva and Parvati on request of the Devas, to be a vighnakartaa (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas (demonic beings), and a vighnahartaa (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas.

This year, September 17th marks the beginning of this festival which is also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Here are some quick facts about the festival:

The festival begins on Shukla Chaturthi which is the fourth day of the waxing moon period, and ends on the 14th day of the waxing moon period known as Anant Chaturdashi. 

Photo: Reuters

Maharashtra is the state known for grand scale Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

Photo: Reuters

During the festival, colourful pandals (temporary shrines) are setup and the Lord is worshipped for ten days. 

Photo: Reuters

There are four main rituals during the festival - Pranapratishhtha - the process of infusing the deity into a murti or idol, Shhodashopachara - 16 forms of paying tribute to Ganesha, Uttarpuja - Puja after which the idol could be shifted after it's infusion, Ganpati Visarjan - immersion of the Idol in the river. 

Photo: Reuters

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Foodies wait for Modak, a sweet dish prepared using rice or flour stuffed with grated jaggery, coconuts and dry fruits.  The plate containing the Modak is supposed to be filled with twenty-one pieces of the sweet.

Photo: Reuters

The festival was celebrated as a public event since the time of Maratha King Shivaji, but a Sarvajanik (Public) Ganesh idol was installed first by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale. 

Photo: Reuters

Lokmanya Tilak changed the festival from a private celebration to a grand public event "to bridge the gap between Brahmins and non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them".

Photo: Reuters

Lord Ganesha is also worshipped in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Nepal and China.

Photo: Reuters

 -indiatoday