Ganesh Chaturthi Info & Picture

Information

Anant Chaturdashi Ganapati Pictures

Ganesha Chaturthi ,also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha.It is a Hindu festival of Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati.Ganesha is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival.

It is the birthday of Lord Ganesha which is worshiped by Hindus, all over the world, as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

As per the Hindu calendar the festival comes in the month of "Bhaadrapad",ie between August and September. The festival is celebrated for 11 days, till Anant Chaturdashi.

Indian freedom fighter Lokamanya Tilak started Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival in order to bring together people from all casts and communities.Under Tilak's encouragement, the festival facilitated community participation.

The festval involved, intellectual discourses, poetry recitals,dramas, musical concerts, and folk dances. It served as a meeting ground for people of all castes and communities in times when, in order to exercise control over the population, the British discouraged social and political gatherings.

Tilak started worshipping of big idols of Ganesha in public halls and began the practice of immersing the idol in sea or other pools of water.Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and pandals.

Prior to Ganesh Chaturthi about 2 to 3 months,the artistic clay statues of Ganesha are made for sale by skilled artisans. They are beautifully designed & depict Lord Ganesh in various poses. The size of these statues may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet.

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated houses and specially erected temporary structures called Pandals.

The Pandals are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current social happenings.

The idols are worshiped with families and friends.The worshipper,clad in silk dhoti and shawl,invokes life into the statue by chanting the mantras,which is called the Pranapratishhtha,after which Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows.

21 modakas,coconut,jaggery, 21 durva ie grass blades and red flowers are offered.During the pooja,Vedic mantras from the Rig Veda,Ganapati Atharvashirsha and the Ganesha stotra are chanted.

For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped.On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a procession for immersion.

On immersion days,the idol is taken to the sea,river etc.through the streets in a musical procession with people dancing and singing in full enthusiasum.This is a ritual to see-off of Ganesha in his journey to his abode in Kailash.

Ganesha Visarjan (Immersion)

Participants of procession shout together, "Ganapathi Bappa Moarya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar ya" (O dear Ganesha, come again early next year). After reaching the immersing place,the final pooja is performed and the idol is immersed with the loud salutes to Ganesha.

Now days this festival is celebrated by installing tallest Ganesha idols with granderous decorations.A big contributed money is involved and "Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav" (for all people), is celebrated with various musical programmes,dramas etc.in the presence of various celebrities like film stars.cricket stars,political leaders etc.

Ganeshas from indivisual localities are nemed after it like Lalbaug cha Raja,Kandivlicha Raja,Saraswatancha Ganapati etc. The idol is immersed on 1&1/2th ,5th,6th,7th and 11th day

Popular Ganapati Idols

Shreemant Dagdoo seth,Pune,India

Lalbaugcha Raja,Mumbai,India

GSB Ganapati,Wadala,,Mumbai,India