Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in India and is not confined to Hindus alone, but is celebrated by all sections of ...
Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in India and is not confined to Hindus alone, but is celebrated by all sections of society. Bhadrapada Sukla Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. Prayers are offered to the Lord before starting any ritual or prayer. He is also called Vighna Vinashaka (destroyer of all obstacles).
Legend has it that Goddess Parvati created a clay statue of Ganesha and gave it life so that he can guard the house when she was bathing. Ganesha obliged and even stopped Lord Shiva from entering the house. An enraged Shiva beheaded Lord Ganesha. When Parvati came to know about this, she requested Shiva to save her son. Shiva then ordered his helpers to cut off the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. His helpers could find only an elephant and brought its head to Lord Shiva, who kept the head on Lord Ganesha’s body and gave it life. He proclaimed Lord Ganesha as the head of all Ganas (Lord Shiva’s followers) and said Lord Ganesha must be worshipped before any pooja. The significance of riding on a mouse is to conquer one’s ego. The Ankusha in Lord Ganesha’s hand represents his lordship over the world and control over anger and envy. His tusk represents concentration.
The pooja is preferably performed at noon since Lord Ganesha was born at noon. The idol (made out of gold, silver, mud or clay) is installed on a mantapa. Prayers are offered and the idol is decorated with flowers, leaves of sacred plants, durva (tender grass) and modaka — Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet dish. The modaka is prepared using rice or wheat flour, jaggery and coconut; 21 modaks are offered to Lord Ganesha.
Druva represents humility and a modaka signifies good things in life. The number 21 represents the organs that control life and action. Thus, worshipping Lord Ganesha teaches us to surrender to the Lord. It is a belief that those who see the moon on this day will face false charges. Since Lord Ganesha cursed the moon on this day, whoever sees it will suffer, but the curse can be overcome by reading the Samonthopakyana (story of Sri Krishna) — a story in the Mahabharata. Ganesha’s idol is kept at home for 1-7 days, depending upon convenience, and an auspicious day is chosen for immersion. Today, Ganesh Chaturthi has become a community festival, thanks to the efforts of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who wanted to bring people together and forge unity among them.
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