Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of Lord Ganesha’s birthday, according to Hindu Mythology, everyone’s favourite elephant-headed lord Ganesha was born on this day. Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi.
According to Hindu calendar Ganesh Chaturthi falls in the month of Bhadra. Lord Ganesha is the god of knowledge, wealth, abundance, and he is also known for removing all obstacles and that is why he is also known as ‘Vighnaharta’ (remover of obstacles).
History of Ganesh Chaturthi
Goddess Parvati created lord Ganesha from clay to guard her palace, while she was resting inside and Lord Shiva came back after several days and he was not able to recognise Ganesha who was guarding the palace of goddess Parvati.
Lord Shiva asked Ganesha to let him meet Parvati, but Ganesha said no. After several attempts Lord Shiva became angry and a battle emerged between the two and after some time angry Shiva beheaded Ganesha.
When goddess Parvati came to know that she became furious when she saw a headless body of Ganesha, Lord Shiva realised his mistake and ordered all the gods to find a soul having its head in the north direction and after some time the Devas came back with an elephant head.
And Lord Shiva joined the elephant head with headless Ganesha and he came back to life.
Ganesha wrote Mahabharata
Many communities celebrate this festival as a mark of the Holy epic Mahabharata. It is believed that Ganesha wrote Mahabharata and Sage Vyas recited it to him and Ganesha demanded Sage Vyas that he will recite the Mahabharata without taking a pause. While Lord Ganesha was penning it all down, his writing instrument broke and he did not have time to fetch a new one so he broke a part of his ivory and used it to finish his writing.
That is why one of the ivory of Lord Ganesha is broken.
It is believed that the entire process took 10 whole days and both Lord Ganesha and Sage Vyas sat through it without any food or water. And on 11th day after he completed the epic, clay was applied over Lord Ganesha’s body, and he was asked to bathe in the river and to mark these ten days Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated and on the 11th day, the idols of lord ganesha made with clay immersed in water.
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesha is the younger son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati and he is known by 108 other names. Ganesha is known as Vighnaharta(obstacle remover) and before starting anything new Hindus worship Lord Ganesha first.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi originated in the city of Pune, more than 125 years ago. The core aim of the festival was to bring together people from all castes and classes and unite everyone against British Rule.
Lord Ganesha’s birthday is celebrated majestically all over India and beautifully magnificent sculpted idols of the Lord Ganesha are placed in pandals and worshipped over a duration of 11 days. The celebrations are accompanied by devotees and lots of music and dance.
Many devotees of Lord Ganesha observe fast on this day and they prepare sweets like Modaks because Lord Ganesha is very fond of them.
Date of Ganesh Chaturthi 2022
According to Hindu Calendar Ganesh Chaturthi falls in the month of Bhadrapada and this year it will be observed on August 31st, Wednesday and it lasts ten days, so the final day Anant Chaturdashi will fall on 9th September.