Ganesh Chaturthi
Welcoming Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, into homes and communities.
तिथी व समय: Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually in August or September.
महत्व एवं कथा (Significance)
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, son of Shiva and Parvati, worshipped as the remover of obstacles (Vighnaharta) and the deity invoked before starting any new venture. Clay idols of Ganesha are installed in homes and community pandals for a period ranging from 1.5 to 11 days.
The festival concludes with Ganesh Visarjan, the immersion of the idol in a river, lake, or the sea, symbolising Ganesha's return to Mount Kailash and the cycle of creation and dissolution.
पूजा विधि व परंपराएँ (Rituals & Customs)
- Pran Pratishtha and Sthapana — installing and consecrating the Ganesha idol
- Daily aarti, offering modak (Ganesha's favourite sweet) and durva grass
- Community celebrations with music, decoration, and cultural programs
- Ganesh Visarjan — immersing the idol, usually accompanied by processions