What is Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is a famous Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, one of the principal Hindu Gods. Hindus living in India and other parts of the world observe this festival with great enthusiasm.
Ganesh Chaturthi History
Ganesha Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Ganpati; his birth and form have an exciting story. It was Goddess Parvathi who created Lord Ganesha using her turmeric paste. At that time, Lord Ganesha was in a complete human form from head to toe.
Goddess Parvathi tasked Ganesha to stand by the gates of her palace and not let anyone in without her consent. With Ganesha guarding by the gates, she went for her bath, and her husband, Lord Shiva, tried to enter the palace. Ganesha stopped Lord Shiva, who became furious at being denied entry into his place, a fiery battle ensued.
At the battle, Lord Shiva himself was taken by surprise at Ganesh’s power; at last, Lord Shiva won the battle, and he beheaded Ganesha. Goddess Parvathi came out and grew furious, knowing about the death of her son. She took the furious form of Maha Kali and was about to destroy the world.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Lord Maha Vishnu, Lord Brahma intervened, and they requested Lord Shiva to do something. Lord Shiva, too felt sorry for his actions, and he the Shivaganas to bring him the severed head of the first living being they came across. Then, the Shivaganas saw an elephant with one tusk. They explained the situation to the elephant, who happily sacrificed his head for the honor.
The Shivaganas bought the tusker’s head to Lord Shiva, who fixed the head into Ganesh’s body and brought him back to life. When Ganesha woke up to life, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi embraced him and gave several boons to him, and anointed him as the primary God and pronounced that any worship will be complete only when first worship is offered to Lord Ganesh. He was appointed as the head of Shiva’s followers, the Shivaganas, and thus got his name, Ganpati.
Ganesh Chaturthi Importance
Ganesh Chaturthi is an important festival in India. Several factors contribute to its importance.
- Devotees pray to Lord Ganesh before starting anything auspicious and vital. Ganesh Chaturthi being his major festival, is believed to bring his blessings in full.
- Ganesha is a benevolent God; his worship is straightforward.
- Lord Shiva granted a boon to Ganesha that everyone will first worship him, and only then will worship be offered to the other gods.
- Worshipping Lord Ganpati on Ganesh Chaturthi will satisfy Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi, his parents, and bring their blessings.
- The Chaturthi thithi is very auspicious for Lord Ganpati and Ganesh Chaturthi being his birthday is very significant.
- Worshipping the Lord on Ganesh Chaturthi will bring an end to your life problems.
- Several devas and Munis who prayed to Lord Ganpati on Ganesh Chaturthi have fulfilled their wishes and received his blessings.
- Ganesh Chaturthi worship would save devotees from malefic planetary effects.
Rituals of Vinayaka Chaturthi
The Ganesh Chaturthi Puja consists of sixteen rituals popularly known as Ganpati Shodashopachara Puja.
1. Avahana and Pratishthapan
2. Asana Samarpan
3. Padya Samarpan
4. Arghya Samarpan
5. Achamana
6. Snana Mantra
7. Vastra Samarpan and Uttariya Samarpan
8. Yajnopavita Samarpan
9. Gandha
10. Akshata
11. Pushpa Mala, Shami Patra, Durvankura, Sindoor
12. Dhoop Samarpan
13. Deep Samarpan
14. Naivedya and Karodvartan
15. Tambula, Narikela and Dakshina Samarpan
16. Neerajan and Visarjan
Ganesh Chaturthi in the different Indian States
The people of Maharashtra celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi for ten long days, and it is their most important festival. Huge statues of Lord Ganesh are specially erected in temporary tents, and poojas are performed to them. Devotees visit Lord Ganesh in the temples and the temporary tents for darshan and pay their respects. They prepare several delicacies and offer them to the Lord.
Maharashtra is famous for the ‘dhol-tasha’ events happening on the 10th day of Ganesh Chaturthi. During these processions, the Ganesh idols erected in temporary tents are immersed in nearby rivers or seas.
Goa and Delhi closely follow Maharashtra in fervor and pomp displayed during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The festival is also grandly observed in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra states.
2022 Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Timings
This year the Ganesh Chaturthi festival falls on 31st August 2022. The puja can be conducted in the morning or evening, depending on your family customs and traditions.
Chaturthi Tithi Begins – 03:33 PM on Aug 30, 2022 and Chaturthi Tithi Ends – 03:22 PM on Aug 31, 2022. The auspicious Ganesha Puja Muhurat is between 11:08 AM to 01:36 PM of August 31, 2022.
The Procedure of Ganpati puja
People all over India celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi; the main puja vidhi and procedure of this auspicious festival remain the same; there might be some changes in the puja procedure depending on the traditions and regions. Here we’ll be discussing the standard Ganpati puja procedures followed across the country.
People clean their homes before commencing the Ganpati Puja, and they buy flowers and fruits to decorate and offer to the Lord. It is a common practice to buy Ganesh’s clay idol during Ganesh Chaturthi. Some use the Ganesha portrait instead of an idol.
Devotees prepare delicacies like laddu, modhak, kozhukatti, puttu, sundal, and ellurundai. They light diyas and incense sticks and draw kolams to welcome the Lord. Ganesh stotras, slokas and Ganesh purana are recited.
The idol of Ganesha bought during the festival will be at the devotee’s house from 3 days up to a maximum of 10 days. Then they would be taken out for visarjan (the ceremony of leaving the idol into the seas or waterbodies). Visarjan ceremony signifies the arrival of Ganesha from Kailash to celebrate his birthday with the devotees, stay with them for some days, bless them and then return to his abode to be back next year.
Devotees consider Lord Ganesha as a member of their family and turn emotional during the visarjan ceremony. They bid goodbye to the Lord with a heavy heart and wait eagerly for subsequent year celebrations.
Ganesha Ashtottaram
The Ganesha Ashtottara Shatanamavali is one of the popular stotras written in honour of Lord Ganesh. It contains 108 unique names of Ganesha and chanting this on Ganesh Chaturthi is belived to bestow several benefits.
The 108 names of Ganesha
- Om Gajananaya Namah
- Om Ganadhyakshaya Namah
- Om Vignarajaaya Namah
- Om Vinayakaya Namah
- Om Dwaimaturaya Namah
- Om Dwimukhaya Namah
- Om Pramukhaya Namah
- Om Sumukhaya Namah
- Om Krutine Namah
- Om Supradeepaya Namah
- Om Sukhanidhaye Namah
- Om Suradhyakshaya Namah
- Om Surarighnaya Namah
- Om Mahaganapathaye Namah
- Om Maanyaaya Namah
- Om Mahakalaya Namah
- Om Mahabhalaya Namah
- Om Heyrambaya Namah
- Om Lamba-jhataraya Namah
- Om Hraswagreevaya Namah
- Om Mahodaraya Namah
- Om Madothkataya Namah
- Om Mahaveeraya Namah
- Om Mantrinae Namah
- Om Mangala-swaraya Namah
- Om Pramadhaya Namah
- Om Pradhamaya Namah
- Om Praagnaya Namah
- Om Vignakarthrey Namah
- Om Vignahantrey Namah
- Om Viswanethrey Namah
- Om Viratpataye Namah
- Om Sripathaye Namah
- Om Vakpathaye Namah
- Om Sringarine Namah
- Om Aashritha vatsalaya Namah
- Om Shivapriyaya Namah
- Om Shegrakarine Namah
- Om Shaswataya Namah
- Om Balaya Namah
- Om Baloothitaya Namah
- Om Bhavatmajaya Namah
- Om Purana purushaya Namah
- Om Puushne Namah
- Om Pushkarotshipta vaarine Namah
- Om Agraganyaya Namah
- Om Agrapujyaya Namah
- Om Agragamine Namah
- Om Mantrakrite Namah
- Om Chameekara prabhaya Namah
- Om Sarvaya Namah
- Om Sarvopasyaya Namah
- Om Sarvakartre Namah
- Om Sarvanethre Namah
- Om Sarvasiddhi-pradaya Namah
- Om Sarva Siddhaye Namah
- Om Pancha-hastaya Namah
- Om Parvatinandanaya Namah
- Om Prabhave Namah
- Om Kumara gurave Namah
- Om Akshobhyaya Namah
- Om Kunjarasura bhamjanaya Namah
- Om Pramodaya Namah
- Om Modakapriyaya Namah
- Om Kanthimatae Namah
- Om Dhritimate Namah
- Om Kamine Namah
- Om Kapithavanapriyaya Namah
- Om Brahmacharine Namah
- Om Brahmarupine Namah
- Om Brahmavidyadi Daanabhuve Namah
- Om Jishnave Namah
- Om Vishnupriyaya Namah
- Om Bhakta jivitaya Namah
- Om Jita manmadhaya Namah
- Om Aishwarya karanaya Namah
- Om Jyayase Namah
- Om YakshaKinnera sevitaya Namah
- Om Ganga sutaya Namah
- Om Ganadhishaya Namah
- Om Gambhira Ninadaaya Namah
- Om Vatave Namah
- Om Abhishta varadayine Namah
- Om Jyotishae Namah
- Om Bhaktanidhaye Namah
- Om Bhava-gamyaya Namah
- Om Mangalapradaya Namah
- Om Avyaktaya Namah
- Om Apraakruta Parakramaya Namah
- Om Satyadharmine Namah
- Om Sakhaye Namah
- Om Sarasambu nidhaye Namah
- Om Maheshaya Namah
- Om Divyangaya Namah
- Om Manikinkini Mekhalaya Namah
- Om Samastadevata murtaye Namah
- Om Sahishnave Namah
- Om Satatotthitaya Namah
- Om Vighata karine Namah
- Om Viswadgrushae Namah
- Om Vishwaraksha krute Namah
- Om Kalyana gurave Namah
- Om Unmatta veshaya Namah
- Om Aparaajithe Namah
- Om Samasta Jagadadharaya Namah
- Om Sarvaishwarya pradaya Namah
- Om Aakranta chidachitprabhave Namah
- Om Shri Vigneshwaraya Namah
Ithi Sri Ganesha Ashtottara Shatanamavali Stotram Samaptham
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