Ganesha Chaturthi lso known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, also called
Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, is the Hindu
festival celebrated on
the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha,
the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed
to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this
festival. It is the day Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods, barring
Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of
wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning
of any new venture or at the start of travel.
The festival, also known as Ganeshotsav ("festival of Ganesha") is
observed in the Hindu
calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on
the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon
period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The
festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant
Chaturdashi (fourteenth
day of the waxing moon period).
On the occasion of the Ganpati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes; sometimes even up to twenty feet.
People buy idols of Lord Ganesha and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idols are taken out ceremoniously, through the streets and immersed into the near by river,pond, sea or well.
On the occasion of the Ganpati festival, a large number of idols are made of clay or metal in all possible sizes; sometimes even up to twenty feet.
People buy idols of Lord Ganesha and install them in their houses and worship the idol for one to ten days, after which the idols are taken out ceremoniously, through the streets and immersed into the near by river,pond, sea or well.
While celebrated all over India, it is most
elaborate in Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.
