Indian Festivals >> Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh, son of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati. This festival is celebrated for 10 days in Maharashtra state and throughout India. This festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-paksh of Hindu calender.

Devotees of Ganesh bring the idol of Ganesh to their houses on this day with chants of 'GANPATI BAPPA MORYA'. and worship the Idol of Lord Ganesh. People do puja, of the idol twice a day - morning and evening till the idol is in their home. Maharashtrians make sweets called 'Modak' and offer them to Ganesh.

The Ganesh idols are kept for either one and a half, five, seven or ten days and then the 'Ganesh Visarjan' is performed, whereby the idols are immersed in sea waters.

Freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak started the custom of 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav' (public festival) in Maharashtra, during the Indian Independence fight against the British. The aim behind this was to bring the people close to each other. From then on, this festival is celebrated in almost every lane, housing society and area in Maharashtra and thus making Ganesh Chaturthi a public festival. Huge 'pandaals' or stages are set up and decorated beautifully and people worship the idol of Lord Ganesh together.

MORE ON LORD GANESHA

THE MEANING OF GANAPATI:
Ganesha is a son of lord Shiva and Parvati. When Shiva was coming back from his "Samadhi", he didn't know that Ganesha was his son. Ganesha didn't let lord Shiva in the house because mother Parvati was bathing. Lord Shiva got mad and cut his head off and went in to the house. When Parvati saw the bloody 'Trishul' she got scared and asked him what happened. Lord Shiva said that he had cut a little boy's head off because he wouldn't let him in to his own house. Parvati cried and told Shiva that Ganesha was his son. Shiva felt bad for what he did, and threw his "Trishul." The "Trishul" returned with a head of a baby elephant. Lord Shiva put the head on Ganesha's body and gave him life. Lord Shiva also gave him a 'Vardaan' that, every time something good is supposed to happen, then people will take your name before mine.

WHY THE ELEPHANT HEAD

Why did Shiva decided to put elephant's head instead of his own head lying on the ground? The big ears, nose, small eyes, big belly and head are the signs of a "Mahapurush." The big head symbolizes lots of knowledge. Big ears symbolizes the ability to hear well and that listening makes you a better person. Small eyes symbolizes the ability to see the future and the reality instead of the fake outside. Big nose (trunk) symbolizes the ability to smell good and the bad in the person from far away. The big belly symbolizes the ability to digest everything good or bad from the people..

WHAT ABOUT THE MOUSE?

Mouse is considered to be his vehicle for transportation. The mouse is chosen for his speed. Because mouse runs around all the time it needs a heavy person like Ganesha to sit on it. This symbolizes your thoughts and hopes. Thoughts and hopes run around in any direction and you need to control them.