Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is an important Hindu festival; dedicated to the god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune – Lord Ganesh. According to Hindu Lunar Calendar; it falls on Chaturthi tithi of Shukla paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. This year Ganesh Chaturthi observes on Friday, 10 September 2024.
Lord Ganesha is the cutest God of Hindu Mythology and is the favourite of the majority of people. He always stands as the foremost inspiration for Indian children and their parents.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 date and puja muhurat
Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat – 11:03 AM to 01:33 PM
Duration – 02 Hours 30 Mins
Ganesha Visarjan on Sunday, September 19, 2021
Time to avoid Moon sighting – 09:12 AM to 08:53 PM
Duration – 11 Hours 41 Min
Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 12:18 AM on Sep 10, 2021
Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 09:57 PM on Sep 10, 2021
Ganesh Visarjan Dates
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja observes in a special way for a day and a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days depending on the family tradition and culture. This varies from place to place. Accordingly Ganesh visarjan dates for 2021 are
- Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi: Sunday, September 19, 2021
- Visarjan on Ganesha Chaturthi: Friday, September 10, 2021
- 1 and half days visarjan: Saturday, September 11, 2021
- 3 days visarjan: Sunday, September 12, 2021
- 5 days visarjan: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
- 7 days visarjan: Thursday, September 16, 2021
The place of the idol is to be positioned; so as to ensure that people are able to view Ganesh Puja most of the time throughout the day on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Before installing the idol, clean the place thoroughly, lay a cloth, and spread some rice on the cloth. Then place the idol on the cloth before starting Ganesh Puja. You can then decorate the idol with flowers, Chandan, and any more things on Ganesh Chaturthi.
Who Lord Ganesha actually is?
Lord Ganesha is the older son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Lord of Good Fortune provides prosperity, good luck, and success. He is famous for his power of knowledge; hence known as ‘The Vinayak or Vighneshwer’. He is the attractor of good luck. it is remembered at the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness.
Goddess 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 had gone out returned at that time, but as Ganesha didn’t know 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 the elephant’s head on the child and brought him back to life.
Lord Ganesha Symbolism
Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant, four hands joined to a large belly with each hand holding its own symbolic object. Lord Ganesha holds a Trishul or trident in one hand to punish, and Ankush or goad (made from his very own broken tooth) in another to control the mind, a lotus in the third to bless the well-being of humanity, and a rosary (which is sometimes replaced by modak, his favourite sweet) in the fourth for happiness. Some say that his large ears signify listening to God, while his large forehead is to develop great intellect. His large stomach shows his capacity to empathize with the troubles of devotees, while his long trunk symbolizes his deep scriptural wisdom.
Favourite Foods and Flowers
All we know is that “Modak is most favourite to Lord Ganesha”. So he is also called ‘Modakpriya’. Here are some foods and flowers that Lord Ganesha loves most; you must consider offering him on your Ganesh Chaturthi puja.
Food
- Modak is the most favorite food of Lord Ganesha.
- Motichoor Ladoos: For all delicious sweets, this delectable sweet dish is one of the beloved foods.
- Puffed Rice: He likes the ladoos made from those murmure which shows his pure love towards his not so rich devotees.
- Banana: Undoubtedly, Lord Ganesha is a great fond of all fruits especially bananas; and he always wishes to have bananas in front of him while worshipping.
- Puran Poli: Along with modak, and Coconut Laddoo, Puran Poli tops the list of favorite bhog offered to Lord Ganesha on Ganesha Chaturthi.
Flowers
- Red Hibiscus is a favorite flower of Lord Ganesha. For all-round prosperity and destruction of enemies, one should offer hibiscus.
- Downy Jasmine (Kunda): Separation among family members, long standing court cases get resolved.
- Blue Gokarna (Clitoria Ternatea): For early marriage one must make this flower offering.
- Marigold: Offering of this flower cures one of chronic diseases and gives good health.
- Erukku Flowers: Divinities attract Flowers and as they have the ability to remove negativity from a person’s soul. Lord Ganesha got a strong feeling of pleasure with marigold and erukku flowers.
Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
Lord Ganesha is the source of knowledge and prosperity. Worshipping him with all our dedication will make us achieve success to unprecedented heights. Here the story Contrary to what many people believe, Ganesh Chaturthi is not a celebration of the birth of Ganesha. Ganesha’s birthday observes in the month of January/February, by the name of Magha Shukla Chaturthi.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the arrival of Ganesha on earth. Parvati or Gauri, was the daughter of the mountain king, Himavaan and Earth, was, therefore, her homeland. Therefore, she came to the earth alone to visit her parents, leaving her husband and son behind. Shiva couldn’t bear to live without his wife, and so he sent his son Ganesha right behind her to bring her back. Ganesha thus came down to earth; where he welcomed with open arms, and his stay extended to 11 days.
Finally, remembering the duty on which he had come, he went back, taking his mother with him. This is the story behind this celebration of 11 days of Ganesh Chaturthi.
How to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi puja vidhi performs with all sixteen rituals along with puja Mantras. There are four main rituals done by the Ganesh Pandals for Ganesh Puja.
- 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 its infusion.
- Ganpati Visarjan – immersion of the Idol in the river.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at Home
- First of all, establish the idol of Lord Ganesha at your home. As per Vastu the northeast corner of the house associates with bringing prosperity and happiness. Select the northeast corner of your house for Ganesh Puja which should be clean and calm.
- Clean the house and sprinkled with ganga water; especially in the place where the Idol of Lord Ganesha is to be placed.
- Arrange a bright dress for the idol and place diyas for the puja.
- Place the Kalash on the shrine and offer the deity with flowers and different food items.
- Arrange a puja thali by the mentioned contents to perform the puja; – Red Altar Cloth, Brass Kalash with Nariyal, Hindu Tilak, Gomutra, Gangajal, Rosewater, Diya, Ghee, Dhoop stick, Supari (betel nut), Clove, Cardamom, Darbha Grass (single)
- Puja Coin (German silver), Akshat, Panchmeva, Janeu, Mouli, Kapus Vastra, Honey, Attar, Kapur, Kharik, Badam, Raw Haldi
Celebration in Different Regions
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India as well as abroad. But it is most famous in the Indian state of Maharashtra. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 statues are immersed annually. As lord Ganesh is the god of knowledge and wisdom; almost every school of India celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm.
In Maharashtra
Maharashtra forms the hub for marvellous pandals and awes striking celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi. With soaring chants and traditional drum beats, the deity arrives at the place which would be his abode for the next 11 days. Followed by ritualistic ceremonies performed to invoke the Lord’s presence in the idol.
The offering of a variety of sweets, flowers, rice, etc is made to the deity. Modak – a type of sweet that is believed to be a favourite of the Lord, is a popular sweet that can be found everywhere during this festival. The days to be followed are marked with regular morning and evening ceremonies and special events of singing religious songs, traditional dances, and chanting prayers. The Maharashtrians mark this as the most lavish and extravagant festival.
In Schools
Schools are the source of education and so is their motto! “To Educate”. Since Lord Ganesha is the symbol of knowledge and the provider of prosperity, schools make sure to arrange puja and feast on this day. Children start preparations a day before and decorate the school.
On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, children are given a feast and sweets as well. They also attend the puja and pray for their bright future.
In Public Communities
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout India at the individual level as well as the community level. Communities usually arrange huge pandals which are set up by an entire neighbourhood and all the people get together to worship the Ganesha idol, with a lot of pomp and show. On the tenth day, all the people go to the river or sea to immerse the idol.
At prominent temples
At Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple in Kanipakam, Andhra Pradesh, annual brahmotsavams will be celebrated for 21 days starting from Vinayaka Chavithi day. The processional deity of Vinayaka will be taken in a procession on different vahanams on these days amidst a large number of pilgrims across the country.
At Home
The procedure of pervading the picture of Lord Ganesha into a murti or idol is the very first ritual to be performed on Ganesh Chaturthi which is stated as Pranapratishhtha. The second is Shhodashopachara observance that witnesses 16 ways to pay homage to Lord Ganesha. Uttarpuja is a conventional puja followed by shifting a newly fabricated idol after its infusion. The last ritual Ganpati Visarjan is the immersion of the Ganesha murti (idol) in the nearby river, pond or sea.
Celebration Abroad
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals abroad. U.K, Mauritius, France, U.S.A are among the major countries apart from India that enjoys observing Ganesh Puja.
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