Ganesh Chaturthi festival
Ganesha Chaturthi also famous as “Vinayaka Chaturthi” is celebrated as “Ganesh Utsav” and considered as the great Hindu festival of India. Lord Ganesha who has the elephant-head instead of a human head, is the son of Shiva and Parvati and younger brother of Lord Kartikeya.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of God Ganesha who is considered as the prime deity for any worship. God Ganesha is worshipped widely as Ganesha is the god of prosperity, god of wisdom and also god of good fortune. Ganesh festival is celebrated for 10 days with great joy and fun. During this festival, so many bestow are presented to Lord Ganesha by the devotees.
Ganesh Chaturthi festival comes in between the month of August and September or in Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi or Sankat Chaturthi-the forth day of the waxing moon period according to the Hindu calendar. This festivals ends on the 10th day that is called as “Anant Chaturthi or “Anant Chaturdashi”.
Vinayaka or the elephant headed God Ganesha, whose vehicle is rat (Mooshak), is considered as the treasure of wealth and bless so devotees prefer to visit the temple of Lord Ganesha and get the blessing of God Ganesha. “Modaks-the famous Indian sweet in droplet shape” are offered to him as he loves the “Modaks” (Laddu) very much.
All devotees loudly say after the prayer,
“Ganpati Bappa Moriya”
“Ganapati Maharaj ki Jay”
“Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya"-Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.
Legend behind this is that sandalwood dough which Goddess Parvati used for bath, God Ganesha emerged from that. When she went for bathing, she commanded her son Ganesh not to allow anyone to enter in the house. Ganesha was there at the door of the house, at that time Lord Shiva-Parvati’s husband returned. As God Ganesha and Shiva were unaware of relation between them, God ganesha stooped him to enter into the house. God shiva got angry and then cruelly cut off his head. When Parvati came to know this, she distressed and requested Lord Shiva to revitalize his son. Then it was decided to cut off the head of one who would come first on the way. Elephant was the first who came there and his head was cut off and fixed to God Ganesha’s body. This way Lord Shiva revive his son and trinity-Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva give their preference of worship to God Ganesh and God Ganesha became a leader “Ganaadhipati” so he is also called as “Ganpati”
Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated all over in India but mostly elaborated in Gujarat, Maharastra, Orissa, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Out of India, Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated widely in Nepal, Canada, United Status, Fiji by Hindus.
