Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
03 Sep, 2008
This festival is held all over india. |
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On this day Hindus all over the world will celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesh Chaturthi). Ganesh Chaturthi or the birthday of Ganesha (the elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Prosperity) falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (around August-September). Ganesh is also known by the names Ganapati, Ekadanta, Vinayaka and Heramba. Irrespective of what Hindu tradition, he is still one of the most popular deities for worship.
Rituals
The puja of Lord Ganesh or Ganesha on the Ganesha Chaturathi day is to be performed at noon. A clay image of the God, painted beautifully, is installed on a raised platform. After the usual preliminary rituals, the Pranapratishhtha must be done with the appropriate mantras. This Pranapratishhtha is done for the purpose of invoking the presence of Lord Ganesha into the image. This is followed by the worship with sixteen modes of showing honor, known as Shhodashopachara.
Offering of Durva (grass) blades and modaka, a delicacy prepared from rice flour, jaggery, and coconut, is an important part of the Ganesh Chaturathi puja. Ganesha is also offered red flowers, and anointed with a red chandana. The immersion of the image in a body of water is ceremonially performed at the end of the chaturathi vrata.
Celebrations
Ladoos are distributed on Ganesh chaturathi - by tradition ladoos were placed in different corners of the house and eaten before the meal. Milk is offered to idols of lord Ganesha at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all temples and hi-house prayer rooms. Hindus pray to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small, many of them made specially for the occasion by cottage industries and street side artisans, and those that do not wish to keep the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water body. |
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