The time has come that most of India awaits inquisitively. Ganesh Chaturthi, the holy fest is on the way and people of the country are all set to celebrate it with great zeal and enthusiasm. Specially erected pandals are in the final stage of embellishment. Beautiful models of lord Ganesha in vivid poses are abounding the markets in almost every city.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a sacred festival of the Hindus. It celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god with the elephant head. Hailed as Vighnaharta, Lord Ganesh is a God of wisdom, knowledge and prosperity. Ganesh Chaturthi is observed on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which falls around August or September and lasts for ten days. It is celebrated from the 4th day of new moon/Shukla paksha Chaturthi of Bhadrapada for the next eleven days till Anant Chaturdashi.
Celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi 2020
Although Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in various parts of India with zest and vigour at this prosperous time. The festivity in south Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa is just matchless.
Preparation for the festival starts months before the festival with skilled artisans creating idols of all sizes, big or small, and in various forms and cleaning the houses to welcome the arrival of the lord. The celebration starts with the installation of Lord Ganesha’s idol in homes as well as the pandals (podiums) erected by societies at whole. People decorate the structures with flower garlands, lights and other decorative items depicting religious themes. The priests chant Vedic hymns, Ganesh stories, aartis and bhajans to please the esteemed deity.
Rituals of Ganesha Chaturthi
The Lord is worshipped with great devotion and prayers are performed at least twice a day. Ganesh Chaturthi rituals are accomplished with a clay image of Lord Ganesha, flowers, druva grass blades, sweets(Modak), coconut, sandalwood paste and incense sticks. It’s believed that mandalas and red flowers please Shri Ganesha the most, and that’s why people worship the god with these particulars.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja commences with the placing of an idol on a raised horizontal surface and giving it a bath with Panchamrit, after that pray to Lord Ganesh and recite all the mantras or bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is assumed that praising Lord Ganesha during the festival removes all obstacles and brings good luck with a fortune to the family.
On the tenth day i.e. Ananta Chaturdashi, a grand procession is taken of the idol. The statues of the Lord are carried on decorated floats and immersed in water bodies such as a river or an ocean. Many people take part in the immersion of the idols in the sea. People sing and dance to tunes on the way before the idol is immersed in the sea. The chants of “Ganpati Bappa Moriya, Agle Baras Tu Jaldi Aa” can be easily heard.
While immersing the idol, prayers and sayings are uttered earnestly yearning the Ganesha to return as early as possible next year.
The idols can also be immersed in water after one, three, five, seven and ten days. People have a lot of emotional connection with this festival. They firmly believe in their hearts that the idol carries along with it all the problems they bear while being submerged.
Significance of this Ganesh Chaturthi festival
It’s believed that God bestows his presence on earth during this fest. Lord Ganesha, as per traditional Hindu stories, was created by goddess Parvati out of sandalwood paste that she used for bath. The goddess created a figure and then infused life into it with her “shakti” (power), as she herself is an embodiment of power. She then ordered him to guard the gate until she finished her bath. Lord Shiva came to meet Parvati, but Ganesha didn’t allow him to go inside. At this, Shiva got angry and beheaded the child. Later on, when Parvati came to know about the incident, she asked Shiva to revive her son. In order to pacify the grief of his wife, he went in search of another head for the child. Shiva saw a dead elephant in the jungle. He then took the elephant’s head and fixed it with Ganesha and instilled life back into him. He even declared his son as superior to all the Gods. That’s why the fest is celebrated as the birthday of Ganesha.
According to Hindu mythology, looking at the moon on the first night of festivities is not allowed. There is a myth attached to this occasion. It is said that on one of His birthdays, Ganesha was going around house to house accepting his favourite offerings of sweet dishes. Suddenly his vehicle, the mooshak(mouse) stumbled down seeing a snake and Lord Ganesh fell down. which made the moon laugh at him. The Moon was then cursed for laughing that whoever looks at the moon on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi would earn a bad name.
Celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi Jaipur
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Jaipur. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi has already begun in the city. The traditions of Ganesh Chaturthi in the Ganesh temples of the city will be performed with full vigour. But, this time due to COVID 19, the entry of visitors to the temples will be stopped. This year, the birth anniversary of Ganesha will be celebrated with simplicity.
The Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple is famous for its Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Jaipur. The tableau of
sweets (modak) will be decorated at 8 am on Wednesday. The tableau will comprise 2 modak of 251 kg, 4 modak of 51 kg and 101 modak of 21 kg. Lord Ganesh will be adorned with the crown of precious gemstones. Devotees will be able to see online only.
Date and time of Ganesh Chaturthi 2020
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on August 22 and preparations for the fest have already begun. The Chaturthi Tithi begins at 11:02 PM on August 21 and ends at 7:57 PM on August 22.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Muhurat 2020
According to drikpanchang, the auspicious time for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja is between 11:25 AM to 1:57 PM on August 22. The time to avoid seeing the moon is between 9:24 AM to 09:46 PM.
May this Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha bestow you the wisdom, prosperity and good fortune!
