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.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.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.

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, 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.

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 .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.