This spectacular festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of the beloved Hindu god of an elephant, Lord Ganesha, worshiped for his ability to remove obstacles and bring good luck. The festival is celebrated in a very public way. Local communities compete for the largest and best statue and exhibition in Ganesha. Expect bustling streets full of rowdy devotees and music.
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Dates
The party takes place in late August or early September, according to the cycle of the moon. It falls on the fourth day after the new moon of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. In 2019, Ganesh Chaturthi will be held on Monday, September 2nd. The festival will last 11 days and the biggest show will take place on the last day, the day of Anant Chaturdashi, celebrated on September 12, 2019.
Where is it celebrated?
The festival is widely celebrated in the state of Maharashtra, where it began as a public festival in the city of Pune more than 125 years ago. Although there was a debate about who initiated him there (Sardar Krishnaji Khasgiwale, freedom fighter Bhausaheb Rangari or freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak), his main goal was to bring people from different classes together. and castes in order to unite them against the British government. The idol in Dagdusheth temple on Laxmi Road in Pune is very popular and historic.
The celebrations extended to other states, such as Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
One of the best places to live in the festival is in Mumbai. It takes place in a special way in the imposing Siddhivinayak temple, located in the Prabhadevi district, in south-central Mumbai, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Countless devotees visit the temple to join the prayers and pay homage to God during the festival. In addition, about 10,000 statues of Lord Ganesh are displayed in various parts of the city.
How is it celebrated?
The festival begins with the installation of huge elaborate statutes of Ganesha on houses and podiums specially constructed and nicely decorated. The craftsmen devote months of efforts to the manufacture of the statues. It is forbidden to watch the moon this first night, as legend says that the moon mocked Lord Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. At Ananta Chaturdasi (the last day), the statues walk the streets, accompanied by many songs and dances, and then plunge into the ocean or other bodies of water.
Only in Mumbai, more than 150,000 statues are submerged each year!
What rituals are performed?
Once the statue of Lord Ganesh is installed, a ceremony is organized to invoke his holy presence on the statue. This ritual is called Pranapratishhtha Puja, during which a series of mantras are recited. Then, a special ceremony of worship is organized. Offerings of sweets, flowers, rice, coconuts, jaggery, and coins are made to God. The statue is also anointed with red Chandan powder. Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha every day during the festival. The temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha also organize special events and prayers.
Those who have a statue of Ganesha in his house treat him and take care of him as a very expensive guest.
Indian devotees celebrating the last day of Ganesha Chaturthi (Ganesha Festival) along the Yamuna River. On the last day of the festival, thousands of plaster idols are submerged in bodies of water.
Picture of WMay / Getty Images.
Why are the statues of Ganesh immersed in the water at the end of the festival?
Hindus worship the idols or statues of their gods because it gives them a visible way to pray. They also recognize that the universe is constantly evolving. The form ends up giving way to the lack of form. However, the energy still remains. The immersion of statues in the ocean or other bodies of water and their subsequent destruction serves as a reminder of this belief.
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Dates
The party takes place in late August or early September, according to the cycle of the moon. It falls on the fourth day after the new moon of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. In 2019, Ganesh Chaturthi will be held on Monday, September 2nd. The festival will last 11 days and the biggest show will take place on the last day, the day of Anant Chaturdashi, celebrated on September 12, 2019.
Where is it celebrated?
The festival is widely celebrated in the state of Maharashtra, where it began as a public festival in the city of Pune more than 125 years ago. Although there was a debate about who initiated him there (Sardar Krishnaji Khasgiwale, freedom fighter Bhausaheb Rangari or freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak), his main goal was to bring people from different classes together. and castes in order to unite them against the British government. The idol in Dagdusheth temple on Laxmi Road in Pune is very popular and historic.
The celebrations extended to other states, such as Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
One of the best places to live in the festival is in Mumbai. It takes place in a special way in the imposing Siddhivinayak temple, located in the Prabhadevi district, in south-central Mumbai, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Countless devotees visit the temple to join the prayers and pay homage to God during the festival. In addition, about 10,000 statues of Lord Ganesh are displayed in various parts of the city.
How is it celebrated?
The festival begins with the installation of huge elaborate statutes of Ganesha on houses and podiums specially constructed and nicely decorated. The craftsmen devote months of efforts to the manufacture of the statues. It is forbidden to watch the moon this first night, as legend says that the moon mocked Lord Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. At Ananta Chaturdasi (the last day), the statues walk the streets, accompanied by many songs and dances, and then plunge into the ocean or other bodies of water.
Only in Mumbai, more than 150,000 statues are submerged each year!
What rituals are performed?
Once the statue of Lord Ganesh is installed, a ceremony is organized to invoke his holy presence on the statue. This ritual is called Pranapratishhtha Puja, during which a series of mantras are recited. Then, a special ceremony of worship is organized. Offerings of sweets, flowers, rice, coconuts, jaggery, and coins are made to God. The statue is also anointed with red Chandan powder. Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha every day during the festival. The temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha also organize special events and prayers.
Those who have a statue of Ganesha in his house treat him and take care of him as a very expensive guest.
Indian devotees celebrating the last day of Ganesha Chaturthi (Ganesha Festival) along the Yamuna River. On the last day of the festival, thousands of plaster idols are submerged in bodies of water.
Picture of WMay / Getty Images.
Why are the statues of Ganesh immersed in the water at the end of the festival?
Hindus worship the idols or statues of their gods because it gives them a visible way to pray. They also recognize that the universe is constantly evolving. The form ends up giving way to the lack of form. However, the energy still remains. The immersion of statues in the ocean or other bodies of water and their subsequent destruction serves as a reminder of this belief.
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