Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, known for his elephant head, is the remover of all obstacles. He is honored at the start of all rituals and ceremonies. Ganesh Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Ganesha as his birthday falls on the fourth day after the new moon in the Hindu month of Bhaadrapada. It is considered as the day on which Lord Ganesh comes down on earth to give blessings to his devotees.
The festival is celebrated over the course of 10 days. People keep the murti in their households for either a day and a half, 5 days, 7 days, or the full 10 days. The 10 day long festival was started to unite the people of India with the celebration of a common festival. On the first day, a murti of Lord Ganesha is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage.
A black thread is tied around the Murti to bring good luck. In the ritual known as pranapratishhtha, the priest invokes life into the murti. The Akhand Diya is kept lit throughout the 10 days. The Akhand Diya is the eternal light. Food prepared in the household during the festival is free of garlic and onion. Once the Lord has been welcomed, offerings of sweets, flowers, coconut, jaggery and coins are made to the Lord. Modakas, an Indian sweet made from rice flour and jaggery, is also offered to the Lord. These days of offering are known as shhodashopachara.
On the 11th day, the murti is paraded through the streets, accompanied by singing and dancing, on the way to be immersed in a river or the sea. An Aarti is done before taking the murti for visarjan (immersion). Oil lamps, flowers, dhoop, and food are offered before taking the murti out of the house. The murti is lifted and taken around to all parts of the house so that every corner of the house is blessed. Curd is placed in the palm of the murti’s hand and also gud and grains tied in a red cloth. It is an old Hindu belief that a guest who has been given curd will return again. The gud and grains are food for his journey home. Before leaving the house, a coconut is circled around the murti three times and then broken so the visarjangoes smoothly. The visarjan symbolizes a farewell to the Lord in his journey towards his home in Kailash, while he takes away with him the misfortunes of all mankind. People chant “Ganappathi Bappa Morya, Pudchya Varshi Laukariya,” which translates to “Oh Ganesh, come again early next year!”
Written by Mahika Jhangiani
Assistant Director HYSC 2015
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