Ganesh Chaturthi
Long-drawn celebrations and festivities are a part of the social and cultural fabric of India. Among the many religious and social customs that mark the diverse festive calendar of Indians, is a very important religious occasion – Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi is a day to invoke Ganesha, the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Rituals and traditions…
Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated on the anniversary of the day Ganesha was revived in his elephant-headed form. Around this time there is a huge celebration where believers ‘bring’ Ganesha into the house, or temple, or Pandal (temporary shrine) as a guest in the form of an idol. He is worshipped with elaborate rituals for 10 days, to invoke his blessings and when his stay is over, the statue is ceremoniously immersed in a water body. This is called visarjan.
Necessity of choosing an eco-friendly ganesha..
Lord Ganesh will fill your home with prosperity and fortune.
LET’S NOT FILL OUR CITY WITH CHEMICALS and POLLUTANTS.
Consider buying idols that are eco-friendly and are made using lumps of clay, natural fibers, paper, mud, and biodegradable materials. The idols made using natural materials and biodegradable materials immerse into the environment and degrade faster by not causing any harm to the ecosystem.
Worship begins from day One…
The worship begins with the pranapratishtha, a ritual to invoke life in the idols, followed by shhodashopachara, or the 16 ways of paying tribute. Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns from religious texts like the GaneshUpanishad, the idols are anointed with red sandalwood paste and yellow and red flowers. Ganesha is also offered coconut, jaggery, and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings), considered to be Ganesha’s favourite food.
Hindu Rituals involve the Pancha/Five Upacharas/offerings. They are namely;
- Gandham: (Fragrance) in the form of white or red Sandalwood paste.
- Dhupam: (Lighting of Incense Sticks),
- Deepam: (Lighting of Oilor ghee Lamps)
- Naivedyam:(Sanctified Offerings of fruits, sweetmeats, etc.) and. Modak and Motichoor Ladoos.
- Pushpam: (Pushpa-Flowers). The Hibiscus or the Shoe flower is a favourite of the Lord. Dhurva Grass malas are also quite popular.
Refer to these articles to know more about the rituals and traditions of Ganesh Chaturthi:
The end of rituals- Ganesha Visarjan…
- The ritual is done to signify the birth cycle of Lord Ganesha; just as he was created from clay/Earth, his symbolic statue is as well.
- The idol is immersed in water so that Ganesha may return to his home after his ‘stay’ at the devotees’ home or temple where the Ganesha Chaturthi rituals are conducted.
- The idols are carried to local rivers in huge processions accompanied by drumbeats, devotional singing, and dancing.
- There they are immersed, a ritual symbolizing Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailas—the abode of his parents, Shiva and Parvati.
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the religious festivals that is celebrated with equal fervour in India and abroad.
