Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

GANESH CHATURTHI FESTIVAL

Places of Merriment: Maharashtra

'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Morya Re, Bappa Morya Re' is what ardent Maharashtrians sing on their lips during the ten 10 days of their favorite festival. Well, they pour out their heart and soul deeply in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi by bringing together people from all communities.

What Is Ganesh Chaturthi

Lord Ganesha?the elephant headed son of Shiva and Parvati celebrates his birthday by descending on earth for all his devotees in Maharashtra. He normally comes down during the month of Bhaadrapada. According to Hindu calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 to 11 days during the months of August and September. This last day of Ganesha's earthly presence ends on Ananta Chaturdashi. Lord Ganesha, is believed to be the Supreme God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. For some, he is worshipped as destroyer of Obstacles.

Bringing Home The Elephant GOD

If you happen to visit Maharashtra during the Ganesh festival, you will experience the true religious fervor. The Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations take place in individual households and diverse communities from all faiths.

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrtations

To mark the beginning of Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival begins with the installation of Lord Ganesha idol. Generally, family members make time together to bring Ganesh to their homes by chanting the mantra Ganapati Bappa Morya, full throatily till they reach the mini mandals at their homes brightly illuminated with colored bulbs.

These idols are generally sculpted at Kumbharwada and Pal, small towns in Maharashtra, where three to four generations of sculptors engraves and lends the final touches with eco-friendly colors. At the public places, idols as high as 30 to 40 feet are installed with themes from Indian temples and palaces as their backdrop. The Lord Ganesha idol is bejeweled with tonnes of heavy gold and silver metal.

Relishing Modaks

For the ten days, Maharashtrians prepare a main sweet dish called 'modak'?which is a favorite sweet dish of Lord Ganesha. It is a delicious dumpling made from rice or wheat flour stuffed with pure grated coconut or desiccated coconut.

These are either fried or steamed. Nowadays, besides the traditional modaks, devotees are trying to tongue tickle their taste buds with modaks made from cashew nuts, strawberry and chocolate or three in one flavors. Along with modaks, some homemakers experiment with all kinds of Maharashtrian sweets like seera, ladoos, barfis and karanjis

A Social Awakening

Lokmanya Tilak, India's great freedom fighter, started the Ganesh Chaturdhi way in 1892, to bring together from all walks of life in places like Mumbai and Pune. He used this tool of social propaganda to achieve the following objectives.

To sensitize the spirit of unity about all religions.

To nullify the feelings of animosity in society

To rejuvenate good religious customs.

Today, even after more than a century, people look forward for these ten-day celebrations with lots of cultural activities like songs, dramas and orchestra. Many artists and amateur sculptors hold their exhibitions by displaying their vibrant moods of Lord Ganeshas.

SINGING IN PRAISE OF LORD GANESHAS

A special puja is performed for Ganesha. It begins with the panchamrut (five nectars), which includes milk, curd, ghee, honey and jaggery, with which the god's icon is bathed, cleansing in between with water. During the festival, puja is performed twice every day - once in the morning and again in the evening. Ganesha is offered special leaves and flowers, 21 of each and white durva grass. Thereafter, the Ganesha mantra is chanted, followed by a Ganesha prayer.

Bidding Goodbye

The festival ends with Ganesha-Visarjan which means immersion of Ganesha. Here the idols are immersed on the holy rivers or rivers or wells. During the immersion process, devotees sing loudly to bid bye and see you again next year. During the immersion procession, decorated chariots with.