Ganesh Chaturthi is a prominent and widely celebrated Hindu festival that marks the auspicious birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed with an outstanding level of enthusiasm across different states of India. This 10-day-long celebration is being observed with a lot of devotion and fervour by Hindus at large. The pompous festival is trendy across India, especially in the western region of India including Maharashtra and Gujarat. This festival holds immense significance in the Hindu calendar. Let us know about all the details of this upcoming grand festival of Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 in India in this post. Read on.
Vinayaka Chaturthi 2024 Date
Ganesh Utsav is a very prominent festival in India, and this year. It will be celebrated from 6th September to 17th September. Since, Lord Ganesha is also known as Siddhi Vinayaka, the festival is also referred to as Vinayaka Chaturthi. For Ganesh Chaturthi 2024, the most auspicious time to bring Lord Ganesha at home, as per Drik Panchang, starts at 3.01 pm on 6th September and ends at 5.37 pm on 7th September 2024.
Time and Muharat for Vinayak Chaturdashi Puja
The Shubh Muhurat for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja will be from 11.03 am to 1.34 pm on 7th September 2024. The Ganesh Visarjan is scheduled for Tuesday, 17th September, 2024.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
Lord Ganesha is revered as the God who removes all obstacles. He is the God of prosperity and wisdom and is worshipped first in all Hindu rituals. The occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi is especially significant in several states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh & Tamil Nadu.
On a spiritual front, Lord Ganesha is the vighnaharta or the remover of obstacles. He is also the god of wisdom. Worshipping him, devotees can have a clear path leading to spiritual attainment or Moksha.
On a social front, the festival is celebrated to promote brotherhood between Hindu and non-Hindu communities. During freedom movement, the festival played a crucial role in bringing together people from various Hindu castes. The festival removes all caste barriers in society and spreads the message of love.
The celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi continue to be a very significant religious and cultural event, uniting millions of devotees in worship & celebration all across India.
What is the Story of Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the rebirth of God Ganesha. The elephant-headed famous God of the Hindus has an exciting story. He was created in a completely human form by the Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is believed to have molded Ganesha from clay or the earth from her own body (versions vary) and given it life. She then tasked him to stand by the door of her palace as she bathed & not let anyone in.
When her husband, the great God Shiva, the lord of the lords, tried to enter his own home, the human form of Ganesha denied him entry into his own house. Lord Shiva asked little Ganesha to step aside; so did his associates Nandi, Bhringi, and other demigods including Lord Brahma. But little Ganesha refused to budge and stood at the door.
This angered Lord Shiva and he beheaded Ganesha with his trident. Lord Shiva’s anger frightened all who were present there. Goddess Parvati rushed to the spot and started crying relentlessly over the lifeless body of her son. Looking at this and hearing the prayers of all the demigods, finally, Lord Shiva’s anger was pacified and he assured everyone that Ganesha will come back to life once again. He sent his men to bring back the head of the first creature they would come across. They met an elephant with one tusk who happily sacrificed his head for the honor.
Lord Shiva eventually brought Ganesha back to life and this story is considered as the episode of rebirth and regeneration of Lord Ganesha. Following this incident, Ganesha was made the head of Shiva’s followers, the Ganas; hence, his name is Ganpati. He is worshipped as an auspicious bringer of prosperity and luck. With his worship, all obstacles are removed from the paths of goodness the progression of evil is blocked.
History of Ganesh Chaturthi
The origin of Ganesh Chaturthi as a festival is unknown. There is no mention of this festival in any ancient Puranic text. The history of the festival, especially in its modern form, can be traced back to the Middle Ages when Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj observed the festival with grandeur in the 17th century.
The Peshwas were also devotees of Ganpati and they celebrated the festival with pomp and glamour in their capital city, Pune, during the 18th Century in the month of Bhadrapada. In the 19th Century, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival stopped receiving state patronage during the British Raj, and the celebrations largely became private affairs with people worshipping small Ganesha idols at their homes.
This was until Bhausaheb Laxman Javale installed a Sarvajanik Ganesha idol in Pune on Ganesh Chaturthi in the year 1892. Lokmanya Tilak supported this move and praised the occasion as Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in his newspaper, Kesari, in 1893. Since then, the festival once again started being celebrated across Maharashtra, defying British rules and legislation against it. Ganesh Chaturthi became a symbol of celebration of brotherhood between Brahmin and non-Brahmin Hindu communities.
How is Ganesh Chaturthi / Ganesh Puja Celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in homes as well as in public. This festival is initiated with the Pranapratishtha, a ritual where the priest engages in chanting specific mantras that invoke life into the Lord Ganesha’s idol. The Shodashopchara follows this ritual. It is a 16-step long ritual where the devotees offer sweets, prayers, and fruits to the deity of Lord Ganesha. Modak is a special sweet dumpling that is mainly offered to Lord Ganesha and is believed to be the favorite of Lord Ganesha.
The celebrations and festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi are marked by very beautifully decorated idols of Lord Ganesha in residences, offices, & public pandals. Devotees sing the traditional and religious hymns, play the traditional drum beats, & prepare certain special meals as part of the celebration. The festivals conclude with the ritual of Uttarpuja, where devotees bid farewell to Lord Ganesha.
On the last day of the festival, the idol is immersed in water during the Visarjan ceremony along with the chanting of “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya,” which means “Goodbye Lord Ganesha, please come back next year.”
In the residences of Maharashtra, families install small & colourful statues of Lord Ganesha to be worshipped during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Flowers & durba/young grass, karanji & modaks are offered during the morning & evening worshipping prayer sessions.
In Maharastra, the Marathi aarti composed by the saint from the 17th century Samarth Ramdas, “Sukhakarta Dukhaharta,” is sung in honor of Lord Ganesha. The families from Maharashtra decide when to end the celebration, and that varies from family to family.
If Ganesha is worshipped at home, the festival may end after 1 and a half, 3,5,7, or 11 days, depending on the wish of the host, also in Maharashtra. Hartalika is observed with a fast by the women of the families on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi. Gauri festival is also observed here with the installation of Gauri idols which is the other name of Devi Durg
Likewise, there are slight differences in observing Ganesh Chaturthi as per the Konkani culture of Goa and in Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.
Related More: Book Decoration for Ganesh Chaturthi in Delhi
Is Vinayaka Chaturthi a Public Holiday?
Ganesh Chaturthi is not a public holiday across India. It is observed as a regional holiday in a few states in India like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Which States Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?
In India, Ganesh Chaturthi is primarily celebrated at home as well as in public by local community groups in the western and central states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Goa. It is also observed in some southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. It is also celebrated in a few eastern states like West Bengal and Odisha.
Related more: Book Decoration for Ganesh Chaturthi in Gurgaon
What Rituals Are Observed for Vinayaka Chaturthi?
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in honor of the birth of Lord Ganesha and is typically celebrated either in August or September months. The celebration usually involves the installation of Ganesha idols in public places and homes followed by certain rituals like singing devotional songs, worshipping with Modak, sweets, and flowers, and finally, the festival culminates in the immersion of the idols in water.
Farewell Procession
On the final day of the festival, the tradition of Ganesh Visarjan takes place. It is the farewell procession when the Ganesh idols are immersed in a water body, river, or sea. On the very last day, the devotees come out in processions carrying the idols of Ganesha, culminating in immersion.
Why are Ganesha Statues Immersed in Water on the Last Day of the Festival?
It is a widespread belief among Hindus that when the idol of Ganesha is taken out for immersion, it also takes away with it the different obstacles of the house. These particular obstacles are being destroyed with the ritual of Visarjan. Each year, we observe people wait with great anticipation to celebrate the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Destinations to Spend Ganesh Chaturthi Holidays 2024
The primary destinations to spend Ganesh Chaturthi Holidays 2024 are:
- Mumbai– Mumbai celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with a lot of pomp and zeal. Every year, approx. 6000 idols are commissioned in Mumbai making Ganesh Chaturthi a grand celebration in public. You may visit Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi and witness famous pandals like Lalbaughcha Raja, Siddivinayak Temple, Mumbaicha Raja, and KhetwadiGanraj. The central place for the immersion of idols in Mumbai is Chowpatti Beach.
- Ganpatipule– Ganpatipule is a small town that is nestled in the Ratnagiri district situated on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. This is a fantastic village that is home to a 400-year-old temple which is famous by the name of Swayambhu Ganpati Temple. This ancient temple is nestled on Ganpatipule beach itself & attracts several tourists every year, and a grand celebration takes place at this temple during Ganesh Chaturthi. It is one of the best destinations that you can visit during Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Hyderabad– Hyderabad is another apt destination where you can witness the grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi. The festivities in this particular city mark the very beginning of Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesh Chaturthi and end on Ganesh Chaturdashi when the Ganesh idol is being immersed.
- Pune – Pune is fondly referred to as the ‘cultural capital of Maharashtra’, and this city is another must visit place that hosts the best of Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in India. So, you may plan your holidays in Pune during Ganesh Chaturthi.
What is the Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is a famous festival that pays homage to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles & celebrates his birthday. Several recognize that Lord Ganesh brings order into this universe and worships him before embarking on a new endeavor, business enterprise, or intellectual journey.
A Glimpse of the 10-Day Celebration
During the ten days of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration, devotees offer hymns, prayers, and chants to Lord Ganesha. Several traditional offerings include sweets like Lord Ganesha’s favourite- modak, flowers, and fruits. Also, several cultural programs are being conducted. This time is indeed the most joyous time of the year in the states where Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated.
Related more: Book Decoration for Ganesh Chaturthi in Noida
Conclusion
Although the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is observed all across India, it is celebrated grandly in certain states of India like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and several other parts of India. Mumbai is one of the best places to experience the festival, where thousands of followers visit the temple to join in prayers & pay their respects to the God in this grand festival. So, we wish you a great Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 celebration ahead.
