Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most celebrated festivals in India, dedicated to the God of wisdom and remover of obstacles, Lord Ganesha. Born to the powerful Lord Shiva and the fiery Ma Durga, Lord Ganesha is known by different names.
Ganapathi, Vinayagar, Buddhinath, Lambodara, Mangalamurti, and much more are among the 108 unique names, each of which holds a significant meaning.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayagar Chathurthi and Ganesh Utsav, is celebrated on Lord Ganesha’s birthday, on Chaturthi tithi of Shukla Paksha.
The Birth Story of Lord Ganesha
The story began in Kailash, where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati reside in the midst of the Himalayas.
Maa Parvati wanted to take a bath without any distractions and asked Nandi, Lord Shiva’s bull, to guard their home. But when Lord Shiva arrived, Nandi held no protest and let him inside. This is because Nandi was loyal and devoted to Shiva before Maa Parvati.
Goddess Parvati was dejected by the fact that she does have someone like Nandi who is solely loyal and devoted to her. So, she created a figure out of the turmeric paste from her body and gave the figure life. And thus, Bala Ganesha was born from the holy powers of Goddess Shakthi.
The Tale of the Elephant Head
Although Lord Ganesha was born with a normal human body, he attained the current form of an elephant head soon after his birth.
Lord Ganesha stood guard with full conviction to not let anyone inside during Maa Parvati’s bath.
When Lord Shiva came back, he was surprised to see a little boy standing guard for his home. He first politely asked Lord Ganesh to move and clarified that he was Goddess Parvati’s husband. Staying true to his mother’s words, Ganesh refused to let Lord Shiva pass through.
Angered by the little boy’s action, Lord Shiva sent his army to destroy him. But Lord Ganesha was extremely powerful; he destroyed the entire army. Taken over by his divine fury, Lord Shiva severed Lord Ganesha’s head with his trishula.
When Goddess Parvati found out, she was devastated and infuriated by Lord Shiva’s actions. She swore to destroy the entire creation in her anger. Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, pleaded with Maa Parvati to calm down. She agreed but on two conditions.
- Ganesha must be brought back to life.
- He must be served and prayed to first before any other god.
Agreeing to the conditions, Lord Shiva brought Ganesha back to life with the head of an elephant, which faced away from his mom.
Why We Celebrate Chaturthi?
Lord Ganesha is known as the God of wisdom and the remover of obstacles. Ganesh Chaturthi marks his birthday and is one of the most celebrated festivals in India.
Ganesh Chathurthi also indicates the cycle of life and death. During Ganesh Chathurthi, Lord Ganesh visits everyone’s home, where his idol is. He stays in his deity’s house, blessing them with prosperity and knowledge. Depending on different demographics, Ganesh Visarjan takes place at different time intervals. Sometimes it takes 3 or 7 or 10 days depending on the local customs and traditions.
During the Ganesh Visarjan, Lord Ganeha’s idol is immersed in holy water. It is believed that Lord Ganesha takes along any obstacles when he leaves his deities’ home. Ganesha’s idols are submerged in water, in the belief that Lord Ganesha goes back home to Mount Kailash, where his parents reside.
How We Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated over a period of 10 days with various rituals and activities, and the most exciting part is lots of dances and celebrations.
Preparation
The only step in preparing for Ganesh Chaturthi is to clean your home to welcome the Lord of Wisdom with a pure heart.
Delicacies
Prepare delicacies and offerings, including flowers, incense, sandalwood paste, coconut, incense, mango leaves, camphor, turmeric, nuts, fruits, and tasty modakams. Although the items the items above are traditionally used, you can simply welcome Lord Ganesh with a pure and devoted heart.
Idol Installation
Once the offerings are ready, on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the idol or paintings, like the Ganesha Tanjore painting, are placed in the home. A puja is done to seek the blessings of Lord Vinayagar with a lamp lit with gingelly oil, incense, and camphor. Ganesh mantras are chanted during the puja by all the devotees and family members.
Community Celebrations
Apart from home, devotees adorn new outfits and flock to temples where huge pujas are held, Vedic hymns are sung, and Prsahad is given. Post-installation, pujas are held every day, and Lord Ganesha’s favorite foods, including modakam, coconuts, and flowers, are offered. On the last day, Ganesh Visarjan takes place, where people come together to dance, celebrate, and send Lord Ganesha to his home.
Conclusion
Ganesh Chaturthi is a vibrant celebration honoring the beloved elephant-headed deity Ganesha that concludes with immense fervor and devotion. As the festivities draw to a close, communities bid farewell to Lord Ganesha, seeking his blessings for a prosperous and auspicious year ahead.
If you are looking for ways to bring the God of Wisdom to your home, buy yourself a Vinayaka Tanjore painting. The Thanjavur painting Ganesha was sketched by excellent craftsmen with utmost devotion towards the destroyer of obstacles. The paintings are excellent representations of cultural significance, beauty, and devotion.
So, adorn your puja room or gift your loved ones Tanjore paintings of Ganesha for prosperous new beginnings.
Om Gan Ganapatay Namo Namah!