Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular and most celebrated festivals for Hindus all over the world. It is the day when Lord Ganesha was born. In many parts of India, it is celebrated for 10 days. It ends with the visarjan (immersion of the Ganesha idol in water) on Anant Chaturthi.
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 11 and Anant Chaturthi is on September 22. The story of Lord Ganesha’s origin is known to virtually every Hindu so I will not repeat it here. It is a universally known and loved story.
One great fact about Lord Ganesha is that he is revered and prayed to by all Hindus, irrespective of their caste, creed or sect (Vaishnavites, Shaivites). He is worshipped first in virtually every ceremony, prayer, puja or homam (havan) because he is the remover of obstacles. He is also the Lord of Power and Wisdom. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the elder brother of Lord Skandha or Muruga.
He is so powerful that once even his father, Lord Shiva, had to seek his forgiveness because he did not offer prayers to him before starting an important ceremony.
The Moon once incurred Lord Ganesha’s wrath when he looked at him and laughed contemptuously. Lord Ganesha cursed him and said that whoever looks at him on the night of Ganesh Chaturthi will be falsely accused of something very major. The accusation can only go if they listen to the story of the Symantaka gem (in which Lord Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the gem).
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by offering prayers to clay idols in most parts of the world. In some parts, however, because of legal and pollution ramifications, people do not use clay idols because of the inability to perform visarjan. People just pray to the photos or brass or stone idols of the Lord.
Durva (a special grass), flowers and special sweets (especially modakam) are offered to the Lord. Special mantras are recited and his ashtottara namavali is also chanted.
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