Ganesha Chaturthi, Vinayaka Chavithi, गणेश चतुर्थी
- Thursday, August 20, 2009, 13:35
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Ganesha Chaturthi, Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesha Festival is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh.Lord Ganesha or Ganpati is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu religion.
On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes; sometimes even up to twenty feet. Generally, the day usually falls between mid August and mid September.
Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
People buy idols of Lord Ganesha and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idols are taken out ceremoniously, through the streets of the town (especially in Maharashtra) and immersed into the river, sea or well at the 11th day.Outside India, it is celebrated by Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka.
Ganesha Chaturthi (IAST: Gaṇeśa Caturthī, devanagari: गणेश चतुर्थी) or Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu, Chavath ( चवथ ) in Konkani and Chathaa (चथा) in Nepali Bhasa.
It is celebrated as it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). Typically, the day usually falls between 20 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi . This festival is observed in the lunar month of bhadrapada shukla paksha chathurthi madhyahana vyapini purvaviddha. If Chaturthi prevails on both days, the first day should be observed. Even if chaturthi prevails for complete duration of madhyahana on the second day, but if it prevails on previous day’s madhyahana period even for one ghatika (24 minutes) the previous day should be observed.[1]
Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate in Maharashtra, Goa (Biggest festival for Konkani people all over the world), Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and other areas which were former states of the Maratha Empire. Outside India, it is celebrated by Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad. This festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh.Generally, the day usually falls between mid August and mid September. The festival is concluded by grand celebrations on the tenth day from chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi. Lord Ganesha or Ganpati is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu religion. It is worshipped by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Even Buddhists and Jains have faith for Ganpati. He is considered to be an avatar of both Shiva and Vishnu.This festival of lord Ganpati is not only celebrated all over India but also in Nepal by Newars and in SriLanka by Tamil Hindus.
On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes; sometimes even up to twenty feet.
People buy idols of Lord Ganesha and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idols are taken out ceremoniously, through the streets of the town (especially in Maharashtra) and immersed into the river, sea or well.
A cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra especially at Pune. Classical dance, music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and film festival are the main features of this festival.(DOU 04092007)
Ganesh or Vinayaka Chaturthi is dedicated to Lord Ganesh (son of Shiva), the elephant -headed god of all good beginnings and success. The festival celebrated as the birth day of Lord Ganesha, is a ten day long event held annually in South India especially with great fervour in Maharashtra. It falls on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadhrapada (August -September).
Ganapati an important deity of the Hindus, has different names and manifestations. He is the God of knowledge, wisdom and the ‘remover of Obstacles’ (‘Vignaharta’) hence called ‘Vigneswar’. He is invoked at the beginning of every major venture.
On the occasion of the Ganapati festival, large number of images are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes sometimes even up to twenty feet. People buy them and install them in their houses and worship for one and a half, five, seven, or ten days (Ananda Chaturdashi), after which the images are taken out ceremoniously, carried in a procession through the streets of the towns, especially in Maharashtra and thrown into the river, sea or well for immersion or ‘Visarjan’. People chant ‘Ganpati bappa Morya, Agle baras to jaldi aa’ (‘Father Ganpati, Come again soon next year’) while immersing. The idol should not be kept after this day, as it is considered inauspicious. The sea front at Mumbai, packed with people, is a spectacular sight.
Aarthis are performed everyday and kumkum thrown over the seated Ganesh idol when it is kept at home. It is customary to make ‘Naivedya’ or offerings of twenty one blades of grass Kewra (pandanus buds) a lotus flower, fruits and sweets, specially twenty one pieces of ‘modaks’ made of rice flour and filled with jaggery; before him. After the ritual worship it is distributed as ‘Prasad’ (sacred food) to everyone present.
Although Ganesh worship was performed from time immemorial it was Lok Manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who was responsible for making Ganesh utsav into a public celebration. A cultural feast is held to coincide with Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra especially at Pune. Classical dance, music performances, poetry recitations, folk dances, theatre and film festival are the main features of this festival.
Legend behind the origin of Ganesh:
In Shiv purana it is said that Ganesh was the creation of Goddess Parvati, who breathed life into an image made of clay. She placed the image outside the door while she was bathing and ordered him not to allow anyone to enter. Then her husband Lord Shiva arrived and was refused admission by the doorkeeper. Shiva became furious and severed the head of the idol. Parvathi was very upset over the incident as she considered the idol as her son (manas putra). To make amends Shiva ordered his servant to go and bring the head of the first living being he would meet. The servant saw an elephant, and he at once cut his head and took it to Shiva. Shiva joined the elephant’s head to the body of Parvati’s son. Thus Ganapathi came in to being.
Ganapathi’s mount is a mouse and he has a snake tied around his belly. His origin has a philosophical aspect to it. The whole cosmos is compared to the belly of God. Shakti Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven worlds above, seven worlds (lokas) below and the seven oceans are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy kundalini symbolized as the huge snake which Ganesha ties around him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego is believed to have Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.
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Can anyone let me know the date of this festival
Sonu
The date of Ganesh Chaturthi is 23 August in 2009
Thanks
Can any one tell when the ganesh nimarjan holiday for hyderabad.
why we are doing like that
Well it was on Sep 03
It will be more helpful, if you display Tamil Monthly calendar with nakshathra and thithi etc.,
Is it necessary to buy a new idol of Ganesh on Ganesh chaturthi ?