Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesha is the God of Prosperity and Wisdom. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great pomp and devotion in Mumbai as the Birth Anniversary of Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated in the month of August or September. It comes on 4th day of Bhadrapada. In Mumbai more than 8000 idols of Lord Ganesha are specially made for Ganesh Chaturthi. Many big and small idols of Ganesha are made by artists during Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh idols are installed and worshipped at temples, homes for ten days. Shlokas are chanted when Ganesh idol is brought in the house. Before the idol is installed the house is cleaned thoroughly.Modak the favorite sweet of Ganesha that is made from rice and sweetened coconut is offered to the Lord Ganesh. On first day of this festival the pooja starts at designated muharat. The idol is kept over a throne like structure. The priests then carry out some rituals to instill life in the idol. The worshippers then do pranayama followed by Atharvashirsha and Ganapati Aarti. Ganapati Aarti is accompanied by cymbals, bells, conch, and clapping.
During the eleven-day festival, the deity is worshipped in the morning as well evening with devotional songs such as Ganesh Stuti, Ganesh Aarti On the eleventh day the Ganesh idol is immersed in water. The Farewell or Visarjan Ceremony is a grand procession that is carried out with great zest and zeal. The energy and enthusiasm shown by devotees at this procession is worth noting. Ganesha idols are carried by devotees to oceans of Mumbai and are accompanied by dancers, singers and musicians. Before immersion Aarti is sung by worshippers In Mumbai the Chow patty Beach which is 1 km from Marine Drive is popular spot for immersing the idols.
Shivaji the great Maratha ruler initiated the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi to promote harmony. This festival was again revived by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak to unite Indians against British rule. He used this festival to instill a sense of nationalism among Indians.
Ganesh The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
Ganesha, the Destroyer of Pride
Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus
Below are some Interesting Links Regarding Lord Ganesha.
Significance of the Ganesh a Form
The Curse of the Moon
Who is Elder?
Ganesha Wallpaper
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