Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated with all the pomp and fervour across India and among the Hindus worldwide. This year Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, began on September 2. This spectacular festival honours the birth of the beloved Hindu elephant-headed god, Lord Ganesha, popularly worshiped for his ability to remove obstacles and bring good fortune. In India, local communities compete with each other to put up the most impressive Ganesha statue on public display.
Historically, the festival has been celebrated since the time of King Shivaji. However, the grandeur celebrations of this public festival originated in the city of Pune more than 125 years ago during India's freedom struggle. Although there is debate over who started it there (Sardar Krishnaji Khasgiwale, freedom fighter Bhausaheb Rangari or freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak), its main purpose was to bring people of different classes and castes together to unite them against the British rule. Across India, and especially in the state of Maharashtra, the spirit of the festival is brought alive with super crowded streets, filled with boisterous devotees, and loud music.
The 10-days-long festival includes four main rituals. They are namely- Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan. A ritual called Pranapratishhtha is observed where a priest chants mantra to invoke life in the diety. Prayers are then offered to Ganesha's idol in 16 different ways. This ritual is called Shhodashopachara. The Uttarpuja ritual is then performed which is about bidding farewell to Ganesha with deep respect. This is followed by Ganpati Visarjan, a ceremony wherein the statue is immersed in water. While carrying the statue to the sea and while immersing it, people generally chant in the Marathi language 'Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya' which means 'Goodbye Lord, please come back next year'.
While some devotees celebrate this festival at home, others pay their visit to Lord Ganesha at public pandals. People offer their due respect, prayers and offerings to Ganesha. Dishes like Lord Ganesha's favourite Modak, Pooran Poli, and Karanji are prepared for friends, family and visitors. Over the years with growing environmental awareness, people have started celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in an environmentally friendly way by making Ganesha idols of natural clay/ mitti and using only flowers, bamboos and natural items for decorating the pandals.
