Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular and auspicious festivals in Hinduism, celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, success, and good fortune. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav. It is observed on the fourth day of the waxing moon phase (Shukla Chaturthi) in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September) according to the Hindu calendar.

Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the brother of Lord Muruga (Kartikeya). He is also the leader of the Ganas, the attendants of Lord Shiva. He has an elephant head, a human body, four arms, and a potbelly. He rides on a mouse, symbolizing his ability to overcome any obstacle. He holds various objects, such as a lotus, an axe, a noose, a goad, a rosary, a modak (sweet dumpling), and his broken tusk. Each object has a symbolic meaning and represents an aspect of his personality or power.

Lord Ganesha is invoked as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles. He is invoked before starting any new venture, such as a business, a journey, a marriage, or an education. He also patronizes arts, sciences, literature, and intellect. Ganesha grants his devotees wisdom, knowledge, success, prosperity, and happiness. He is also known by many names, such as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Vighneshvara, Pillaiyar, Gajanana, Dhoomraketu, Ekdanta, Vakratunda, Siddhi Vinayaka, and many more.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days with great devotion and enthusiasm by Hindus all over India and abroad. The festival begins with the installation of clay idols of Lord Ganesha in homes or public pandals (temporary structures). The idols are beautifully decorated with flowers, clothes, jewelry, and other accessories. The idols are worshipped daily with prayers, hymns, offerings, and rituals. The offerings include coconut, jaggery, 21 modaks (sweet dumplings), which are believed to be Lord Ganesha's favorite food. The devotees also sing songs and dance in praise of Lord Ganesha.

The festival ends on the tenth day with the immersion of the idols in water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or seas. This ritual is called Ganesh Visarjan or Anant Chaturdashi and symbolizes Lord Ganesha's return to his heavenly abode after blessing his devotees on earth. The devotees carry the idols in processions with music, chants, and slogans. They immerse the idols with reverence and bid farewell to Lord Ganesha with the hope that he will come back next year. The immersion also signifies the dissolution of all forms into the formless Brahman (the supreme reality).

According to the Gregorian calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi 2023 will start on Monday, September 18th, and end on Tuesday, September 19th. According to the Hindu calendar (Purnimant), Ganesh Chaturthi will begin on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi (the fourth day of the waxing moon phase) at 12:39 PM on Monday, September 18th and end at 8:43 PM on Tuesday, September 19th. The most auspicious time for performing the Ganesh Puja is during the midday (Madhyahna) period when Lord Ganesha is believed to have been born. The Madhyahna Ganesh Puja Muhurat for 2023 is from 11:01 AM to 01:28 PM on Tuesday, September 19th. The duration of this muhurat is 02 hours and 27 minutes. The devotees should avoid looking at the moon on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, i.e., on Monday, September 18th, as it is considered inauspicious.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform Ganesh Chaturthi Puja at home:

• Clean your home and decorate it with flowers and rangolis.
• Install a Ganesha idol in a puja room or a clean and sacred place in your home.
• Offer prayers to Ganesha by chanting mantras or reciting shlokas.
• Offer Ganesha naivedhya, which is a variety of foods that are considered to be his favorites. Some popular naivedhya items include modaks, laddoos, and fruits.
• Perform aarti, a ritual of waving a lamp before the idol.
• Break a coconut in front of the idol as an offering.
• Sing bhajans, which are devotional songs in praise of Lord Ganesha.
• Spend time in meditation and introspection.
• Offer prayers for the removal of obstacles and the attainment of good health, happiness, and prosperity.
• Immerse the Ganesha idol in a river or a pond on the 10th day of the festival.

• Wake up and complete your morning routine before Sunrise
• Offer salutations to Sri Surya Deva with heads bowed down after a simple pranam to Sri Ganesha
• Perform routine Pooja to Kula Devta and Ishta Devta
• Get all Pooja Samagri ready for Sri Ganesha Pooja and Sri Ganesha Katha patanam
• Perform Sri Ganesha Pooja along with family members, friends, relatives and neighbors
• Offer Modaka Prasad to Sri Ganesha
• Distribute Modaka Prasad to kids first and then to others
• If Vinayaka Chavithi Katha Patanam is performed traditionally at home then perform the same with kids around