The Ganesh Chaturthi Festival is a day dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesh. Often referred to as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaviti, the festival commemorates Lord Ganesh’s arrival from the Kailash Parvat with his mother Goddesses Parvati and Gauri. It is a time when Hindus and other people across the world celebrate the festival of Vinayaka Chaturthi.
The festival is celebrated in different parts of India, with each state having their own special way to celebrate the festival. Cultural rituals, music, and food are common components of the festival. In celebration, people gather together to worship Ganesh and perform devotional songs and dance. Across the world, many people will celebrate the Ganesh Festival with friends, family, and colleagues. The Ganesh Festival is a long-awaited Hindu holiday in India.
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Dates 2022
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2022? According to the Hindu calendar, it will fall on the last day of August – a Wednesday. Ganesh Chaturthi is an important Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesha. This year, it will be on Wednesday, August 31. Read on to find out more about the festival. If you are not sure, you can look up a few dates online.
History Of Ganesh Chaturthi
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated across India, with its origin in Maharashtra. It is a popular Hindu festival, celebrated with enthusiasm and participation by the community. In 1947, Ganesh Chaturthi was made a national holiday. During this festival, thousands of people come together in celebration of the God Ganesha. However, before the festival is celebrated nationwide, we need to learn a bit about the God himself.
The festival dates back to the time of the Peshwa Empire, when Shivaji organized it to foster cultural harmony. But the festival was largely celebrated by the upper class during the Peshwa Empire. Then, in 1882, Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived it, despite the British ban on public assemblies. He used the occasion to rally the people and give a new meaning to the festival.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is celebrated all over the world, and is among the most important festivals in Hinduism. The festival honors the god of wisdom, Ganesha, who is also the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Hindus worship him to bring them prosperity and good luck. Traditionally, the festival begins on Shukla Chaturthi, which is the first day of the waxing moon. The day of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout India and Hindu diaspora countries.
While the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi are widespread in India, they are most popular in Maharashtra. Konkanis celebrate the festival in the state, and the Newars of Nepal also participate in the festivities. Even outside of India, Hindus celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in their native countries. You can celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with your family and friends. The festival has become a part of Indian culture for generations.
How Is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated
This important Hindu festival marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. A devotee is expected to pay homage to the god with clay idols and a variety of religious and cultural practices. People celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi by fasting and offering prayers to the god. This day is also marked with private gatherings and food and drink. In addition to its religious significance, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most anticipated festivals in India.
The tradition of performing Ganesh pujas has a very ancient origin. The goddess Parvati had a turmeric boy guarding her palace while she bathed. One day, Lord Shiva visited her palace and was stopped by the boy Ganesha enraged Lord Shiva cut off the boy’s head as Mother Parvati came to know about it she started weeping Lord Shiva replaced the head of the slained boy with an elephant’s head Thus, the god appeared as a messenger from heaven and became the lord of prosperity.
The Ganesha festival begins with worshipping the idols. The idols are decorated with marigolds and red sandalwood paste. In addition, the worship of Ganesha begins with the shhodashopachara ritual, which involves offering the god coconuts, jaggery, and twenty-one modaks. As part of the celebration, devotees perform a gauntlet of rites and rituals.
Famous Ganesh Utsav Pandal’s in Mumbai
The renowned ghats of Mumbai are home to a number of temples and Ganesh statues. You may have come across one of these statues in a magazine or on a tourist guide, but have you ever wondered what the significance is behind it? Read on to learn more. And don’t forget to visit the Pandal itself! If you like to see the famous Ganesh idol, you should also visit the temples at Andhericha Raja, Lal Baughcha Raja, GSB Sewa Mandal Ganapati, Khetwadicha Ganraj, and Bajira Devi.
Lal Baughcha Raja
The Lalbaugcha Raja is the most revered Ganesh idol in Mumbai. It is part of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, which was founded in 1934 in Lalbaug Market. The pandal draws millions of devotees each day. Visitors to this pandal believe that the god can fulfill all their wishes. This popular Ganesh idol has also been the center of media attention for several years.
The Lalbaugcha Raja idol is the most popular and celebrated Ganapati idol in Mumbai. You can watch live streaming of mukh darshan on YouTube. The Sarvajanik Mandal has a YouTube channel dedicated to live streaming. If you’re unable to make it to the pandal in person, don’t fret. You can still enjoy the pandal’s famous art shows.
Andhericha Raja
The life-sized idol of Ganesha in Andhericha Raja makes this pandal a grand festive affair during Ganesh Chaturthi. The pandal is attended by a large number of worshippers, and is also known as the king of Mumbai. While many pandals around the city have life-sized idols, some of them are more ornate than others.
The Andhericha Raja Ganpati Utsav Pandal is the oldest Mandal in the city, and it hosted Lokmanya Tilak. Thousands of people come to see the idol during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which takes place between September 1 and 11 each year. Each pandal depicts Lord Ganesha in a unique way. Andhericha Raja’s unique pandal has a quirky dress code – visitors must wear half-pants or short skirts.
GSB Sewa Mandal Ganapati
For the ten days of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the city of Mumbai pulsates with devotional songs and drumbeats. Beautiful puja pandals and delicacies, including modak, are on display throughout the city. GSB Sewa Mandal Ganapati in King Circle is the most expensive Ganapati pandal in the world, with its idol encrusted with over 60 kilograms of gold and 175 kilograms of silver.
The GSB Seva Mandal in King Circle is the richest in Mumbai. The GSB community founded this temple in 1954. It attracts visitors by offering lots of gold ornaments to the Ganesh idol. The GSB community believes that the God of gold has the ability to attract wealth to the temple. There is an enclosed seating area for senior citizens and a VIP dining room for visiting dignitaries.
Khetwadicha Ganraj
Located in South Mumbai, the famous Khetwadicha Gan Raja is one of the oldest and most popular pandals for worshipping Lord Ganesha. The pandal was established by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893. It is one of the oldest pandals in the city and is famous for its eco-friendly idol. The pandal is also home to one of the tallest idols in the city – Khetwadicha Ganraj Raja.
The famous Khetwadicha Gan Raj is located in the Girgaon area of Mumbai. It was established in 1959 and is considered to be the tallest Ganesh idol in the world. This idol is 40 feet high and can be seen in virtually every lane in the city. The festival itself is celebrated on the first day of September every year.
Keshavji Naik Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal
If you are planning a trip to Mumbai, you should visit the famous Ganesh Utsav Pandala. This temple is among the oldest in the city, and it was founded by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893. The pandal has the tallest Ganesh idol in the world and is made entirely from eco-friendly material. It is also celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and will display a replica of the Ganpatipule Temple in Ratnagiri.
The famous Ganesh idol of the city is a big attraction at the GSB. Thousands of devotees flock to this pandal to have their photos clicked with Bappa. Some have even stood in line for 24 hours to have a glimpse of Bappa. This pandal is famous for its ambiance and the fact that 60% of the donations are spent on social service initiatives.
Famous Sweets Of Ganeshotsav
If you are celebrating this festival in India, you should know about the famous sweets of Ganeshotsav. You will find several types of sweets to choose from, including Patholi, Puranpoli, and Modak.
Modak
Modak, the famous sweets of Ganeshotsave, have been an integral part of the celebrations for more than 300 years. They are a delicacy that is rich in fiber, and they work on the digestive tract by making it easier for the body to absorb the rich coconut and jaggery content. This sweet is also known for its ability to increase brain energy. Modak is a staple of the festival’s offering, and health experts believe in its miraculous powers,Modak is actually made from solid augmented milk fats.
Modaks have several mythological origins. They are associated with Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati. They are also associated with the elephant god’s appetite. The story goes that Anusuya, the wife of Rishi Atri, insisted on serving Lord Ganesha with modak before offering Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was so impressed by the modak that he burped after eating it.
Puranpoli
A delicious and healthy snack for Ganeshotsav is puran poli. This traditional Maharashtrian sweet is a staple of the festival. It is made with chana dal and jaggery and is served with a variety of curries. If you are visiting Maharashtra, you can sample this sweet along with Katachi Amti, a traditional drink made from the water of Chana Dal, which is used to make Puran.
After mixing the puran with sugar and water, prepare the stuffing. You can add strands of saffron to the mixture. Mix everything well, and then divide the mixture into six balls. Roll each dough ball to form a three to four-inch circle. Fill each ball with a little more puran than dough. Seal the edges of the dough and roll them into a round shape. Once they are rolled, grate the saffron on top.
Gur Nariyal Wadi
One of the most delicious and popular sweet in Ganesh utsav is the Gur Nariyal Wadi, a steamed coconut-jaggery filling. This delicacy is a staple of the 11-day celebration. This delicious sweet is made with fresh coconut and elaichi powder, making it a unique, sweet treat.
Patholi
Patholi.is eaten and served as prasad on Ganesh Chaturthi. Patholi is eaten by everyone on this festival. This sweet is made from a variety of ingredients and can be made at home easily.
Patholi is a traditional Indian sweet that consists of rice flour rolls filled with coconut and jaggery. It is steamed on a pan with turmeric leaves, which gives the sweet aroma. Patholi is one of the most popular traditional sweets of Ganeshotsav and a favorite of Lord Ganesha. It is a staple dish at aarti and is widely available in many Indian households.
Srikhand
Famous sweets of Ganeshotsav Srikhand are made in many parts of the country and are a traditional part of the festival. Shrikhand is a popular sweet dish made with strained yoghurt and is largely produced in Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a traditional treat served as prasad to the god Ganesha. .
Shrikhand is one of the oldest Indian sweets and has references in Sanskrit literature. This traditional sweet dish can be prepared easily at home and is traditionally eaten with Indian bread. The plain version is delicious and can be enhanced with different types of flavours. To make it even more delicious, try adding raisins and chunky nuts to it. The delicious treat is a staple at Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations all over India.
Rituals Of Ganesh Chaturathi
There are many traditions associated with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which is a ten-day celebration in India. Traditionally, preparations for the festival begin two to three months before the actual day. Rituals are performed, food is distributed, and people seek to get rid of all the bad qualities of their lives. This celebration is extremely auspicious and is celebrated with great enthusiasm across India.
The festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and his wife, Goddess Parvati. The festival is celebrated with great devotion and the idol of the elephant-headed god is immersed in a holy body of water during the daylong fasts. The festival lasts ten days, during which devotees pray to Ganesh for good luck and prosperity.
The main rituals during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival include bathing the idol in water and scented oil, offering flowers and food, lighting a diya, and making modak, a sweet dish that is considered the favourite of the god. The chanting of bhajans and religious songs accompany the festival. On the last day of the festival, Visarjan is performed. The festival is celebrated with fireworks, drumbeats, and religious songs. While the festival is widely celebrated in India, its importance is not lost on the presiding deity of the state. Maharashtra, for example, celebrates Ganesh Puja every year on the 10th of September. The chanting of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ and other ‘Ganpati Bappa’ purifies the air. However, Maharashtra is a good place to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, because the festival falls on a Sunday, which makes it a popular holiday.