Also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganesh Chaturthi is an Indian festival rejoices the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. This auspicious event is observed in Bhadra month in Hindu calendar or in the mid August to September in Gregorian calendar.
One of the most anticipated deities, Lord Ganesha has up to 108 names in Indian culture. He is known to bring wisdom, good fortune, wealth and prosperity. The festival is celebrated with great joy and devotion in several states of the country, and even overseas. It is celebrated widely in Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, since ages.
In 2017 Ganesh Chaturthi Festival will fall on Friday 25th August 2017.
Ganesh Chaturthi Puja Shubh Muhurat Time
Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Time = 11:06 to 13:39
Duration = 2 Hours 33 Mins
On 24th, Time to Avoid Moon Sighting = 20:27 to 20:43
Duration = 0 Hours 16 Mins
On 25th, Time to Avoid Moon Sighting = 09:10 to 21:20
Duration = 12 Hours 9 Mins
Chaturthi Date Begins = 20:27 on 24-Aug-2017
Chaturthi Date Ends = 20:31 on 25-Aug-2017
History
Of all the legends linked to the history behind this festival, the most relevant one is when Goddess Parvati first created the idol of Ganesha. According to the legend, she created his idol using her sandalwood paste when Lord Shiva was meditating outside. She told him to guard her house’s door and never let anyone to come inside when she was bathing. When Shiva returned home, Shiva and Ganesha got into the fight. The furious Shiva cut the head of child off. Parvati got furious with this event and told Lord Shiva to get him back alive. Lord Shiva’s followers started searching for his head in the north. But they found an elephant and put the head on his body. This is how Lord Ganesha is also known as Gajanana.
Rituals and Traditions
People started waiting for Ganesh Chaturthi with great excitement around a week before. Several artistic clay models, in different poses and sizes, are made by the artisans. The devotees install these statues in well decorated “Pandals” in localities, homes and temples. Lights and garlands increase the beauty of this status. The “Prana Pratishtha” is a ritual of chanting mantras by the priest. Thereafter, a ritual “Shhodashopachara” is performed in which prayers are performed in 16 ways.
Finally “Uttarpuja” is another ritual in which devotees give farewell to the deity with proper respect. There is a ceremony after this ritual to immerse the statue in water. It is called as “Ganpati Visarjan”.
The devotees chant “Ganpati Bappa Moreya”, which evokes the feeling and it is heard during celebrations. Along with prayers, the festival also includes cultural activities like singing, dancing, theatre performances and orchestra, along with several community activities.
Foods
A lot of foodies wait for Ganesh Chaturthi also for Modak. It is actually a dumpling made of flour or rice stuffed with grated coconuts, jaggery and dry fruits, steamed or fried. Karanji is yet another popular dish, and important part of celebration. It comes in semicircular shape and is known as Nevri in Goa. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, laddu, modak, panakam (a beverage made with cardamom, black pepper and jaggery flavor), vundrallu (coarsely ground rice flour, steamed balls), chalividi (cooked mixture of jaggery and rice flour), and vadapappu (soaked moong lentils) are offered to the deity. Offering these sweet dishes is known as naivedya. Traditionally, a plate holds 21 pieces of modaks. The Goan variant of Idli or Modak is well known in Goa.
