Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated in India. Also known as Vinayaka Chavithi, Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, and is observed in the month of Bhaadrapada. Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations starts on the Shukla Chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period) and lasts for 10 days and ends on Anant Chaturdashi. In 2011, Ganesh Chaturthi festival is on 1st September 2011, Thursday.
The elephant-headed Ganesha, considered as the supreme God of Wisdom, is worshipped for prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesh is the 'remover of obstacles' and therefore he is called
'Vigneswar'. His vehicle is Mooshak (rat). Lord Ganesha, who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is believed to grant his presence on the earth on the auspicious occasion of Pillayar Chaturthi .
Though Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is celebrated throughout India, it is celebrated in a grand scale in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka also celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in a grand manner.
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations in India
It is the custom of the people to get clay models of Lord Ganesha, two to three months much in advance of Vinayak Chavithi festival. With the sizes ranging to over 25 feet, the beautifully decorated models portray the Lord in various poses. People install the statues in their homes. Rituals are performed throughout the ten days, from Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas (a sweet dish) and 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered to the deity. A cream made of vermillion and sandalwood paste is smeared over the statue. The statues are taken out ceremoniously in procession around the streets on the 11th day. Accompanied by drum-beats, Ganesha devotional songs and dances, the figures of Lord Ganesh are then immersed in a river or the sea. Modak (modagam or modakam in South India) is the main sweet dish prepared on the day. Some people also make karanji (karjikai in Kannada) for the deity.
Previous Years Ganesha Chaturthi Dates
In 2009, Ganesh Chaturthi was on 23rd August 2009 and in 2010, Ganesh Chaturthi was on 11th September 2010.
Legend of Vinayaka Chaturthi
It is not advisable to look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. There is a legend behind this. Lord Ganesh, on one of his birthdays, consumed a number of sweets and started to move on his mouse. All of a sudden, the mouse got scared at a snake and so it slipped. Due to this, Ganesh who was on the mouse also fell down. His stomach burst out and the sweets came out. However, the Lord managed to fill the sweets again into his stomach. He caught the snake and tied around his belly. The moon (Lord Chandra), who was noticing all these, started laughing. The annoyed Lord pulled out one of his trunks and threw it against the moon. Ganesha cursed that no one should look at the moon on his birthday and if anyone does he will be punished with bad name or dishonor.
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Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra
Temples of Lord Ganesh
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Ganapati Bhajans
Pictures of Ganesh
Ganesh Chalisa Lyrics and Video Song
108 Names of Lord Ganesh
Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva Devotional Song
Ganpathi Ki Seva Mangal Bhajan Song
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The elephant-headed Ganesha, considered as the supreme God of Wisdom, is worshipped for prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesh is the 'remover of obstacles' and therefore he is called
'Vigneswar'. His vehicle is Mooshak (rat). Lord Ganesha, who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is believed to grant his presence on the earth on the auspicious occasion of Pillayar Chaturthi .Though Vinayaka Chaturthi festival is celebrated throughout India, it is celebrated in a grand scale in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, Newars in Nepal and Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka also celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi in a grand manner.
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations in India
It is the custom of the people to get clay models of Lord Ganesha, two to three months much in advance of Vinayak Chavithi festival. With the sizes ranging to over 25 feet, the beautifully decorated models portray the Lord in various poses. People install the statues in their homes. Rituals are performed throughout the ten days, from Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas (a sweet dish) and 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered to the deity. A cream made of vermillion and sandalwood paste is smeared over the statue. The statues are taken out ceremoniously in procession around the streets on the 11th day. Accompanied by drum-beats, Ganesha devotional songs and dances, the figures of Lord Ganesh are then immersed in a river or the sea. Modak (modagam or modakam in South India) is the main sweet dish prepared on the day. Some people also make karanji (karjikai in Kannada) for the deity.
Previous Years Ganesha Chaturthi Dates
In 2009, Ganesh Chaturthi was on 23rd August 2009 and in 2010, Ganesh Chaturthi was on 11th September 2010.
Legend of Vinayaka Chaturthi
It is not advisable to look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. There is a legend behind this. Lord Ganesh, on one of his birthdays, consumed a number of sweets and started to move on his mouse. All of a sudden, the mouse got scared at a snake and so it slipped. Due to this, Ganesh who was on the mouse also fell down. His stomach burst out and the sweets came out. However, the Lord managed to fill the sweets again into his stomach. He caught the snake and tied around his belly. The moon (Lord Chandra), who was noticing all these, started laughing. The annoyed Lord pulled out one of his trunks and threw it against the moon. Ganesha cursed that no one should look at the moon on his birthday and if anyone does he will be punished with bad name or dishonor.
--
Related Posts
Ashtavinayak Temples in Maharashtra
Temples of Lord Ganesh
Mantras of Ganesha
Ganapati Bhajans
Pictures of Ganesh
Ganesh Chalisa Lyrics and Video Song
108 Names of Lord Ganesh
Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva Devotional Song
Ganpathi Ki Seva Mangal Bhajan Song
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1 comments:
Really Very nice article on Ganesh Chaturthi. This Article is very much informative for all people who believe in Lord Ganesha. Really very nice article in Ganesh Chaturthi for songs on Ganpati visit the Ganesha Bhajans link in Hindu Devotional Blog.
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