According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is the recipient of Chaturthi Tithi. In the Hindu calendar, there are two Chaturthi Tithis (fourth days) for each lunar month: Vinayaka Chaturthi and Sankashti Chaturthi. Sankashti Chaturthi occurs every month after the full moon day, Purnima, during Krishna Paksha, whereas Vinayaka Chaturthi occurs after the new moon, or Amavasya, during Shukla Paksha in a lunar month. Lord Ganesha is a symbol of luck, prosperity, and wisdom. He is regarded as the lord of learning as well as the one who removes hurdles.
The Significance Of Vinayaka Chaturthi / Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival honoring Pratham Pujya Lord Ganesha. It starts on the fourth day, or chaturthi, of the Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month. The day often occurs in August or September according to the Gregorian calendar. Maharashtra celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with great fanfare. Throughout the ten days of celebration, devotees recite the mantra “Ganpati Bappa Moriya.” Ganpati idols are taken in processions, accompanied by music and bhajans, on the tenth day, and then submerged in the sea or other surrounding bodies of water.
According to legend, Lord Ganesha descends Mount Kailasha for ten days each year to grant the wishes of his devotees. On the tenth day, he is said to return to his parents, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. In saying goodbye, his devotees ask him to come back sooner the next year.
Benefits from Ganesh Pooja
- Raise the standard of education for kids, family welfare, and prosperity.
- Eliminates barriers and aids in achieving objectives.
- Aids in successful commercial endeavors, career progress, and favorable employment chances.
- Minimize losses and enhance financial circumstances.
- Foster solid bonds with those you love, and may happiness and peace be bestowed on you.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Puja Vidhi
- Rise early and take a bath.
- Wear fresh clothes. You may wear red colored clothes.
- Keep a day-long Vrat. You may opt for a fruit and milk diet with Vrat recipes or only have one meal during the day. However, the meal must be consumed only after performing puja during Madhyana.
- Make all the preparations and the Naivedhya for the puja.
- During the puja muhurat, light an oil lamp and do Dhyana (Meditation). Then invoke Lord Ganesha and urge him to accept your humble offerings.
- Offer kumkum, Chandan, and 21 strands of Dhruva grass while chanting the following Mantra:
OM Gan Ganpataye Namah (ऊँ गं गणपतये नमः)
You may also chant the Ganesh Gayatri Mantra
OM Ekadantaya Viddhmahe, Vakratundaya Dheemahi Tanno Danti Prachodayat
Meaning:
OM, Glory to the one who has one tusk and a curved trunk,
I bow before you to get blessed by your grace for an illuminated life.
- Perform the Panchopachara puja. For this, you would need perfume/Itra (Gandha), red colored hibiscus flowers or any other flower (Pushpa), Dhoopa (Incense), oil lamp (Deepa), and Naivedhya (Modak, besan or boondi laddoo and or other Sattvic recipes).
- After performing the panchopchara puja, offer the tamboolam consisting of five types of fruits (optional), a whole brown coconut with its husk, bananas, paan, and supari, haldi and kumkum and Dakshina (currency notes/coins).
- Read the Vinayaka Chaturthi Vrat Katha.
- Conclude the puja by singing the Ganesh Aarti while offering salutations with the ignited camphor.
Vinayaka Chaturthi Yearly Dates and Mahurat
| Names | Dates | Mahurat Begins | Mahurat Ends |
| Pausha, Shukla Chaturthi | January 14, 2024, Sunday | January 13 | 9:29 PM in (United States) | January 14 | 6:29 PM in (United States) |
| Magha, Shukla Chaturthi | February 13, 2024, Tuesday | February 12 | 7:14 AM in (United States) | February 13 | 4:11 AM in (United States) |
| Phalguna, Shukla Chaturthi | March 13, 2024, Wednesday | March 12 | 6:33 PM in (United States) | March 13 | 3:55 PM in (United States) |
| Chaitra, Shukla Chaturthi | April 12, 2024, Friday | April 11 | 5:33 AM in (United States) | April 12 | 3:41 AM in (United States) |
| Vaishakha, Shukla Chaturthi | May 11, 2024, Saturday | May 10 | 5:20 PM in (United States) | May 11 | 4:33 PM in (United States) |
| Jyeshtha, Shukla Chaturthi | June 10, 2024, Monday | June 09 | 6:14 AM in (United States) | June 10 | 6:44 AM in (United States) |
| Ashadha, Shukla Chaturthi | July 9, 2024, Tuesday | July 08 | 8:38 PM in (United States) | July 09 | 10:21 PM in (United States) |
| Shravana, Shukla Chaturthi | August 8, 2024, Thursday | August 07 | 12:35 PM in (United States) | August 08 | 3:06 PM in (United States) |
| Bhadrapada, Shukla Chaturthi | September 7, 2024, Saturday | September 06 | 5:31 AM in (United States) | September 07 | 8:07 AM in (United States) |
| Ashwina, Shukla Chaturthi | October 6, 2024, Sunday | October 05 | 10:19 PM in (United States) | October 07 | 12:17 AM in (United States) |
| Kartika, Shukla Chaturthi | November 5, 2024, Tuesday | November 04 | 12:54 PM in (United States) | November 05 | 1:46 PM in (United States) |
| Margashirsha, Shukla Chaturthi | December 4, 2024, Wednesday | December 04 | 2:40 AM in (United States) | December 05 | 2:19 AM in (United States) |
