One of the major festivals of the Hindus, Ganesh Chaturthi, is celebrated on the birthday of the elephant-headed god, Ganesha, who is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to the Hindu religion, Ganesha is considered to be the god of prosperity and wisdom, and so at the beginning of any auspicious work, Lord Ganesha is invoked for blessings by the Hindus.
When goddess Parvati, learned about his dead son, she was distraught and asked Lord Shiva to give back his son, which meant reviving Ganesha. On this adamant request, Lord Shiva, cut an elephant’s head and put it on Ganesha’s body and gave him life. This is how Ganesha became the elephant-headed god.
Also, there’s yet another story that prevails about Ganesha, which says that once, there was a race held, by the gods, between the two brothers, Kartikeya and Ganesha, in order to decide their leader. It was decided that whosoever took three rounds of the Earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader.
Kartikeya set out, on his vehicle, which is a peacock. Ganesha’s vehicle was the ‘mooshak’ or the rat which moved swiftly. Ganesha knew that this test was not as easy as it seemed to be. But since this race was the order of all the gods and his father himself, he would not disobey them. He paid obeisance and respect to his parents and took three rounds of his parents and stated that, “my parents pervade whole of the universe, and taking three rounds of them, going around them thrice, is far more than taking three rounds of the Earth”.
All the gods and everybody else was surprised and pleased with his logic and hence declared him as the Ganaadhipati, which is why Ganesha is also known as ‘Ganpati’.
Ganesh Chaturthi is started by the installation of the statue or idol of Ganesha, elaborately crafted, in homes and podiums, decorated beautifully with great magnificence. Prayer services known as ‘pooja’ are rendered regularly, every day. The artisans who craft these idols of Ganesha, compete amongst themselves to craft the biggest statue of Ganesha. The largest ones are generally of 10metres to 30meters in height.
These decorated statues are then carried in great processions to be immersed in the sea on the first, third, fifth, seventh and tenth day. This immersion is of great significance. Idols or statues are worshipped by the Hindus because it gives a visible form to pray. They also believe that there is a constant rate of change in the universe. Though the energy still stays on, the form eventually becomes formlessness. Hence, the action of immersion of idols and statues in water, is just a reminder of this belief.
On the last day, which is known as, ‘Ananta Chaturdasi’, the immersion and procession is carried with great festive fever by dancing on the beats of ‘Dhols’ (drum) and singing aloud devotional songs. People come out in large numbers and parade with their statues, which are to be immersed.
It is said that on Ganesha Chaturthi one must not look at the moon, since the moon was cursed by Goddess Parvati for laughing at Lord Ganesha when he fell down from his vehicle, the ‘mooshak’ or the rat. Looking at the moon this day is considered highly inauspicious by the Hindus.
Last Updated on 09/19/2011
When is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
As per the Hindu calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight or the period from the new moon, in the lunar month, known as the ‘Bhadrapada’ (generally from mid-August to mid-September). It is a ten day long festival, extended to twenty one days also by some people.Ganesh Chaturthi Story
In the Hindu mythology, there are several stories on how Lord Ganesha was born and he became elephant-headed. It is said that Goddess Parvati created Ganesha, with the help of the sandalwood dough, which she used for bathing and put life into it and asking him to guard the door while she bathed. Unaware of Lord Shiva’s identity, Ganesha stopped Lord Shiva when he returned. Furious with anger, Lord Shiva, at once severed the head of the child and entered his house.Also, there’s yet another story that prevails about Ganesha, which says that once, there was a race held, by the gods, between the two brothers, Kartikeya and Ganesha, in order to decide their leader. It was decided that whosoever took three rounds of the Earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader.
Kartikeya set out, on his vehicle, which is a peacock. Ganesha’s vehicle was the ‘mooshak’ or the rat which moved swiftly. Ganesha knew that this test was not as easy as it seemed to be. But since this race was the order of all the gods and his father himself, he would not disobey them. He paid obeisance and respect to his parents and took three rounds of his parents and stated that, “my parents pervade whole of the universe, and taking three rounds of them, going around them thrice, is far more than taking three rounds of the Earth”.
All the gods and everybody else was surprised and pleased with his logic and hence declared him as the Ganaadhipati, which is why Ganesha is also known as ‘Ganpati’.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebration
Ganesha Chaturthi festival is greatly celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and many others parts of India. Initially it was started by Chatrapati Shivaji Mahraj and later taken over and revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter). It spread a message of unity and promotion of tradition and culture and also to defy the British rule.Ganesh Chaturthi is started by the installation of the statue or idol of Ganesha, elaborately crafted, in homes and podiums, decorated beautifully with great magnificence. Prayer services known as ‘pooja’ are rendered regularly, every day. The artisans who craft these idols of Ganesha, compete amongst themselves to craft the biggest statue of Ganesha. The largest ones are generally of 10metres to 30meters in height.
These decorated statues are then carried in great processions to be immersed in the sea on the first, third, fifth, seventh and tenth day. This immersion is of great significance. Idols or statues are worshipped by the Hindus because it gives a visible form to pray. They also believe that there is a constant rate of change in the universe. Though the energy still stays on, the form eventually becomes formlessness. Hence, the action of immersion of idols and statues in water, is just a reminder of this belief.
On the last day, which is known as, ‘Ananta Chaturdasi’, the immersion and procession is carried with great festive fever by dancing on the beats of ‘Dhols’ (drum) and singing aloud devotional songs. People come out in large numbers and parade with their statues, which are to be immersed.
It is said that on Ganesha Chaturthi one must not look at the moon, since the moon was cursed by Goddess Parvati for laughing at Lord Ganesha when he fell down from his vehicle, the ‘mooshak’ or the rat. Looking at the moon this day is considered highly inauspicious by the Hindus.
Last Updated on 09/19/2011
| Festivals of India | |
