Ganesh Chaturthi : Importance, History, 2023 Date, Visarjan

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vināyaka Chaturthī) is the Hindu festival that reveres God Lord Ganesha.Lord Ganesh was the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Parvati.Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across India and is observed on the fourth day of the first fortnight (Shukla Chaturthi) in the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar, usually August or September in the Gregorian calendar. The festival generally lasts ten days, ending on the fourteenth day of the fortnight (Anant Chaturdashi).

The other is Ganesh Jayanti which is also known as Magha Shukla Chaturthi, Tilkund Chaturthi, and Varad Chaturthi. It is a popular festival particularly in the Indian state of Maharashtra and it is also celebrated in goa held during the Shukla paksha Chaturthi day (fourth day of the bright fortnight or the waxing moon) in the month of Maagha as per almanac, which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar month of January/February. As a legend narrated by Nandi to the Sanatkumara sages, god Krishna was charged with stealing as he saw the moon on Magha Shukla Chaturthi – which was prohibited. He observed fast on this day and got rid of the accusation of stealing

Apart from those two big festivals related to Lord Ganesh, every month two Ganesh Chaturthi are also observed as fasting days by many.

Types of Chaturthi

Sankashti Chaturthi: Sankat means problem and Chaturthi means the fourth state. It is said that one can overcome all the problems doing this Vrata. Chaturthi which comes after Purnima or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi or Sankat Chauth.

Vinayaka Chaturthi:  Chaturthi which falls after Amavasya or new moon i.e. during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi.

This year 2023, is celebrated on  Tuesday, September 19, 2023

• Chaturthi Tithi Begins –  12:39 PM on Sep 18, 2023
• Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 01:43 PM on Sep 19, 2023

Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat – 11:06 AM to 01:34 PM

Ganesha Visarjan onTuesday, September 19, 2023

Angarak Chaturthi:  When Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, it is called Angarak Chaturthi. Tuesday is the Ganesha’s favourite day, So Angarak Chaturthi is considered highly auspicious.

Maagh Krishna Chaturthi(Also known as Ganesh Jayanti): It is a day to offer Naivedya of Til and Gud Laddoo (sesame seeds and jaggery balls) to Lord Ganesha. It is believed that by worshiping him on this day he takes care of the family the whole year.

Bhadrapad Krishna: The most significant and famous of all chaturthis is the Bhadrapad Shuka Paksha Chaturthi. It is considered as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

History of Ganesha Birth

The Goddess Parvati made lord Ganesha with her turmeric powder to guard because she wants to bath at home of Kailsam. Before some days Nandi used to guard Goddess Parvati and he restricts those who came in the kailasam, he follows her words. One day Parvathi was interested to do doll with turmeric, after that she was so much excited to give life to that idol named to that as Bal Ganesh and considered that child as her own. She told him not to permit anyone entering the home. Ganesh sits near the entrance of the house, eating Mothka(sweet).

Battle with Lord Shiva

The Bal Ganesh did not know about celestial leaders and they enter the Kailasa he didn’t allow any of them. Next Lord Shiva enters the home, that Bal Ganesh restricts Shiva and Nandi also. Lord Shiva explained to him but, he refuses to permit him. So the lord shiva gets angry and wants to do battle with him. Finally, shiva throws his Trisula weapon (ayutha )Trishula. It moves towards of cut through the Ganesha head and his head goes to the north direction of the world. Goddess saw that and she becomes angry at Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva tries to explain Parvathi we can’t fix the head again.

Trishula – the nature of Trisula is when it cut once, the physical part will not fix again.

The lord Shiva knows and explains about Trisul to Parvati. And the lord shiva planned with the celestial leader of Brahma, and Vishnu finds an elephant head to fix his body then he will be alive again. Lord Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu gave him elephant head and blessed him as predominant of all gods and goddess, and the elephant head represents the wisdom of knowledge and the name of GAJAMUGA GANAPATI. From then Lord Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of any rituals, festivals, ceremonies, and homa for good ending.

Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi

Vinayaka Chaturthi is a big festival and it is a Hindu ritual celebrating in India. This puja is performed for ten days and Ananta Chaturdashi is the last day of Chaturthi for immersion in the Ganesha idol. And Chaturti denotes the birthday of Lord Ganesha. During the day, who celebrate Ganesh puja with loved food items and flowers for the deity, the people believe Ganesha gives blessings and remove past dosha or mistakes.   

Worship of Haridra Ganapathi:

Lord Ganesh can be worshipped in two ways i.e with Idol and Haridra Ganapathi.

Haridra Ganapathi is made by adding water to the turmeric powder and made it in a triangle shape as shown in the figure below.

Place haridra Ganapathi in front of the Ganesh photo frame or the clay idol, or panchaloha idol by using betel leaf or plate containing raw rice. Lit diyas on either side of the Ganesh, burn incense sticks, offer laddoo, modaks.

Worship of Lord Ganesh with idol

Ganesha Chaturthi is a major famous Hindu ritual. During the festivity the people install new clay Ganesha idol in home individually, for worshiping the lord Ganesha and make special puja in the evening to invite the lord Ganesha.

The lord deity idol decorates with Mandar garland, dharba grass, sandal, hibiscus, and marigold. Each one indicates its quality of benefits.

Mandara – it repairs the physical issue

Dharba– provides the purification of karma

Sandal –  gives proper wealth development

Hibiscus– symbolize the prosperity

Marigold – indicate a glorious.

These flowers offer to the deity to make him pleasurable, and he removes obstacles and bad karma from the devotee’s life.

Lord Ganesh with idols like Clay Ganesh or Panchaloha idol is placed for the puja. On the white cloth pour some raw rice and place Ganesh Idol on that.

Lit diyas on either side of Ganesh, burn dhoop or incense sticks, offer laddoo, modaks.

Put garland on the photo or around the neck of the idol. …Repeat one of Ganesha’s mantras.A lesser known story from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana narrates a different version of Ganesha’s birth. On the insistence of Shiva, Parvati fasted for a year (punyaka vrata) to propitiate Vishnu so that he would grant her a son. … Accordingly, Ganesha was born to Parvati as a charming infant. Sankashti Chaturthi is an auspicious day dedicated to Ganesha. This day is observed in every lunar month of the Hindu calendar on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha (dark lunar phase or the waning phase). If this Chaturthi falls on a Tuesday it is called Angaraki Sankashti Chaturthi.

Ganesh (also spelled Ganesa or Ganesha and known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar) is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity, fortune and success. He is the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles of both material and spiritual kinds.

In South Indian states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Vinayaka Chathurthi is being celebrated for ten days as the mainstream festival. Devotees create temporary setups known as panthals for housing their idols of Ganesha.

Offerings are made to the god on subsequent days and during the tenth day, with intense celebrations including colorful dance, orchestras and various mantra chanting the idol is carried to a nearby water body and is immersed there. It is estimated that more than 100,000 idols are being left out at water bodies on major cities across India as a part of the festival annually.

It is believed that Lord Ganesha bless those devotees who offer him puja during these holy days.

Lord Ganesha’ favorite food items

He loves Sweets much particularly Laddu,Mothakam or Kozhu kata

Types of Grains

Arugam is a kind of green grass, Fruits, Sugar cane.

These are offered during the festival ‘Ganesha chaturti’.

Is Lord Ganesh married?

According to Hindu script, Lord Ganesha is considered to be a bachelor. But there are some cultures in which he is a family man. Siddhi and Riddhi are the wives of Hindu God Ganesha. There is an interesting story which narrates how Ganesha got married.

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