Ganesha Chaturthi

Indian festivals are not only of great religious importance in Indian culture, but are also social functions where friends meet and enjoy good food together.  

Ganesha chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesha, which falls on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad (August/September). Ganesha chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days from Ganeshchaturthi (the day on which Lord Ganesha was born.) to Anantchaturdashi (the final or 10th day, when his immersion takes place). This festival is celebrated in several states of India, but especially in Maharashtra. Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire celebrated this festival on a grand scale. Ganesha chaturthi is a very colorful and happy event in the religious, social and cultural life of India.  

Colorful clay idols of Ganesha are made. Markets wear a look of gay festivity because of the colorful Ganesha idols of varying shapes and sizes sold there. Markets are full of baskets of colorful flowers and other items necessary for Ganesha pooja. Idols are purchased and brought home the day before Ganesh Chaturthi that is the day of Hartalik. On this day women fast and invoke the blessings of goddess Parvati, Ganesha's mother. In streets and commercial establishments a life-size or an even bigger image of Lord Ganesha is installed on a platform. Lord Ganesha is very fond of sweets and hence kheer, panchamruta, fruits and sweets, especially modaks are placed before him as "Naivaidya" or "Bhog". After the ritual worship(pooja) this "Bhog" is distributed as "prasad" among the devotees. As one walks down the streets one can hear many a beautiful bhajan or song sung in praise of Lord Ganesha. After the pooja, all the children in the house gather around the elders and listen to the story, "Ganesha and the moon".  

On the day of immersion, which is either 3rd, 5th, 7th or 10th day devotees perform "Pooja" and then the idol is taken out in a procession by people who sing and dance. The sea fronts are packed with surging masses of humanity, as the idols of Ganesha are carried towards the water amid shouts of "Ganapati Bappa Moriya, Pudhachya varshi lavkar ya" (Return early next year, oh Victorious Lord Ganesha). The idols are then let into the water.  

During the days of the British Raj when the nation was under the yoke of slavery of the British, Lokmanya Tilak, who proclaimed "Swarajya is my birth-right and I will have it", realized the importance of the massive popularity of Ganesh Chaturthi and initiated its nationwide celebrations in 1893. He did this to involve the large rural population in his struggle for independence. Thus Ganesh Chaturthi became a platform for the political awakening and uprising among the Indian people.

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