Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most eagerly awaited festivals in a year celebrated by the Hindus. Ganesh Chaturti is an 11-day festival that marks the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god. Ganesha, the deity of wisdom and prosperity, is the son of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. This festival is celebrated with great fanfare, joy, and good food.
To know Ganesh Chaturthi’s significance, importance, etc., click here.
Worshiping Lord Ganesha
The festival celebration begins a month before, where idols of Lord Ganesha are made in many sizes for temples, houses, and pandals. You can begin the rituals by getting a clay idol of Ganesh Ji to worship in the morning and the evening. The entire house is usually cleaned before getting the idol home, and the entire family is gathered to welcome the Lord. The idol is then worshiped by offerings of durva, flowers, modaks, and karanji.
Here is a step-by-step Ganesh Chaturthi puja procedure…
The whole family works as a team to welcome Lord Ganesh
Before the arrival of Ganesh Chaturthi, clean the house and make sure your home is neat and organized. On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath. Ganesh Chaturthi is a happy and sacred occasion. All family members must share the responsibilities, perform the puja together, and seek his blessings.
Getting the Ganesh idol
There are three approaches to planning the puja for Lord Ganesh. Some people use the image, picture, or idol they already have in their puja room. Alternatively, you can make an idol yourself with the family members using clay or turmeric. Finally, Ganesh’s new images or idols (murti) can be bought from the shops and pandals. This is the most popular option used by most households. Every year, people search for a new idol that they use for prayers and procedures during this ten-day festival.
Setting up the altar for Lord Ganesh
Make the seating arrangements for Lord Ganesh on a raised platform or the traditional puja altar of the home. Draw rangoli in front of the altar. Spread a nice-looking cloth on the pedestal or platform. Place the image/idol of Ganesh at the puja altar.
Preparation for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at Home
Sweep and wipe clean your house. Then, bring the idol of Ganesh home, and you can invite your friends and relatives for the Puja. Let your entire family gather at the time of Puja. Then, recite Ganesh Shlokas to welcome the Lord in your house.
Things Needed for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja
Here are the things which you will need for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja.
- An idol of Lord Ganesh should preferably be an eco-friendly idol so that you can celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi the eco-friendly way.
- Chandan or sandalwood paste.
- Red flowers, preferably Hibiscus flowers.
- Incense sticks.
- Durva grass.
- Modaks or any sweet made at home after a bath and without food.
- Some fruits.
- A Chaurang or elevated table to place the idol.
- A cloth to cover the table and things to decorate it like lights.
- Diya to light in front of the idol for Aarti.
Pooja Vidhi
Keep the idol on a raised platform before performing the mantras. Prayers and mantras are chanted before installing the idol and once it is installed. Once done, place five flowers on the feet of Ganesh Ji, followed by Padya Samarpan. Here, the Lord’s feet are washed with holy water. Then, the idol is offered water and a bath by panchamrita snaman. You can prepare the same by mixing curd, honey, ghee, and sugar. Lastly, you can bathe the idol with pure water and offer new clothes. Offerings like sindoor, naivedyam, chandan, durva, garland are made. For the pooja vidhi, you can call a pandit at home to chant the mantras and perform the sixteen rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi’s pooja.
Prasad and Bhog
It is believed that Lord Ganesha was a fan of ladoos and modak—a sweet dumpling filled with jaggery and coconut made from rice or wheat flour. On this festival, various forms of modak are made and offered as prasad. Around 21 sweets, including modak, and ladoos, are offered to Lord Ganesha as bhog.
Honoring by Aarti
Aarti is one of the most important steps of Ganesh Chaturthi. You can worship and honor the festival by singing the following aartis:
Jai Ganesh Deva Aarti
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;
Mata jaki parvati, pita maha deva;
Eka danta dayavanta, char bhuja dhari;
Mathe sindura sohe, muse ki savari;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;
Andhan ko aankh deta, kordhina ko kaya;Banjhan ko putra deta, nirdhana ko maya;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;.
Paana chadhe, phoola chadhe, aur chadhe meva;
Ladduan ka bhoga lage, santa karen seva;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva.
Sukha Karta Dukh Harta in Marathi
Sukhkarta dukhharta varta vighnachi,
nurvi purvi prem krupa jayachi;
Sarvangi sundar uti shendurachi,
kanthi zalke mal mukta- phalachi;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatre mankamana purti;Ratnakhachit fara tuj gaurikumra,
chandanachi uti kumkumkeshara;
Hirejadit mugut shobhato bara,
runzunati nupure charni ghagaria;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatre mankamana purti;
Lambodar pitambar phadivarbandhana,
saral sond vakratunda trinayan;
Das ramacha vat pahe sadana,
sankti pavave nirvani rakshave survarvandana;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatre mankamana purti.
Some Ganesh Slokas
1) Vakra Tunda Mahakaya Koti Surya Samaprabha, Nirvighnam Kurume Deva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada
2) Om Gajaananam Bhuta Ganaadi Sevitam
Kapitta Jambuu Phala Saar Pakshitam
Namami Vighneshwara Paada Pankajam
3) Shuklambharadharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam Chaturbhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayet Sarva Vighnopa Shantaye.
4) Om Gam Ganapataye Namah!
Ganesha Visarjan
The 11-day long festival ends with the visarjan (immersion). On the last day, the idol is carried by the group or family. Here, a celebration with music and chanting is done. The idol is carried to get immersed in a water body such as a river, lake, or ocean where the clay idol dissolves. The day is concluded by chanting the following prayer:
Avahanam Na Janami Na Janami Tavarchanam।
Pujam Chaiva Na Janami Kshamasva Ganeshwara॥
Anyatha Sharanam Nasti Tvameva Sharanam Mam।
Tasmatkarunya Bhavena Rakshasva Vighneshwara॥
Gatam Papam Gatam Dukham Gatam Daridraya Meva Cha।
Agata Sukha Sampattih Punyachcha Tava Darshanat॥Mantrahinam Kriyahinam Bhaktihinam Sureshwara।
Yatpujitam Maya Deva Paripurnam Tadastu Me॥
Yadaksharapada Bhrashtam Matrahinam Cha Yadbhavet।
Tatsarva Kshamyatam Deva Prasida Parameshwara॥
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