Ganesh Chaturthi: A festival that warms the heart!

Team Udayavani, Sep 19, 2023, 9:29 AM IST

Ganesh Chaturthi, a significant Hindu festival, holds deep cultural and religious importance in India, spanning a joyous 10-day celebration. This festival commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the divine ruler of fortune, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesha Chaturthi.

The origin stories of Ganesha vary, with one recounting the replacement of his head with an elephant’s face by his father, Lord Shiva. Hence, Ganesha is often referred to as Gajanana’s and is known by various names, including Heramba, Ganapati, Ekadanta, and Vinayaka. Worship of Lord Ganapati has been a timeless tradition.

One belief associated with the festival is that farmers worship Ganesha to safeguard their fields, paddies, and gardens from marauding elephants, as well as to appease the rats that threaten their crops. Devotees joyfully bring Ganesha into their homes, symbolizing unity with Ekadanta, and perform Chaturthi Puja and Vrats (fasts). Public installations of Ganesha are also common. Some celebrate for five days, while others extend it to ten or eleven.

Offerings of Modaka are made to Ekadanta, followed by a procession where Ganesha is immersed in a river amidst singing and dancing.

Although Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across regions, each place adds its unique touch, enriching the festival’s significance and fostering stronger relationships among its participants