Om Gam Ganapathiye Namo Namah || Shree Siddhivinaayaka namo namah
Ashta Vinaayaka namo namah || Ganapati Bappa Mauriya
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi one of the most notable Hindu festivals is celebrated across the country for 10 days in the Bhadra month of the Hindu calendar. The festival celebrates the birthday of our beloved elephant-headed god – Ganesha.
Hindu mythology has many stories on how Ganesha was born, but the most popular amongst them is the story that we have all have grown up listening to. The story where it is said that Goddess Parvathi, wife of Lord Siva, carved Ganesha, her son, from the dirt on her body to guard her in Siva’s absence. One day when Siva returned home while Parvathi was in the bath, Ganesha was guarding the door with orders from Parvathi to let no one in. Ganesha stopped Siva from entering his own abode, that enraged Siva. The argument between the oblivious father and son led to Siva severing Ganesha’s head. Parvathi was infuriated on seeing her son’s lifeless body and Lord Siva promised to return Ganesh his life. Siva fired a miraculous arrow to the jungle that returned with a baby elephant’s head. The head was then fixed on Ganesha’s human body and then came to life our most beloved and celebrated god – Ganpati.
Ganesh was always known for his wisdom, loyalty, and compassion while his brother Karthikeyan (the elder prodigy of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi) was known for his valor and martial abilities. He has been described as the handsome warrior in Hindu mythology and is knows to have led victory wars between devas and demons. While both brothers are celebrated Indian deities, there is an interesting story behind how lord Ganesha came to be worshipped as the lord of good luck and why every auspicious occasion is commenced with a Ganesh Puja. It so happened that one day that Lord Siva received a holy mango. Whoever would eat the mango was to gain knowledge and wisdom. Although lord Siva wanted both his son’s to benefit, it could be eaten by one. Lord Siva & Parvathi decide to hold a competition between both their sons to decide the winner. The challenge was that one who goes around the world thrice and returns faster wins. Karthikeyan immediately left on his peacock and zoomed off. However, Lord Ganesha was plump and his vehicle was a mouse, he, therefore, knew that he would never win the race. The wise Ganesha, made his parents sit together and circled around them thrice. Upon being questioned, Ganesha told his parents that they were his entire world and therefore he was encircling them. Thrilled by the sheer wisdom and smartness of Ganesha, lord Siva handed him the mango. He also blessed Ganesha that he would thereafter be known as the god of wealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdom and prosperity. Every auspicious occasion would begin with worshipping and offering prayers to Ganesha.
Eternally, every Hindu household, continues to worship lord Ganesha and his avatars on every auspicious occasion. Like all other poojas, Ganesh Chaturthi, too was a household affair until Lokmanya Tilak transformed Ganesh Chaturthi to a Sarvajanic Mahotsav (grant public festival) to enable people from all sections of the society could come together, pray, and unite. This way Tilak succeeded in bringing a feeling of patriotism and unity among the masses against the colonial British rule. This marked the beginning of the tradition of celebrating the 10-day festival of worshipping our beloved Bappa, with grandeur and high spirits. The celebrations have evolved over the years with beautifully handcrafted idols, extravagant pandals displaying animated stories from mythology, colorful decorations, and enthusiastic devotees.
While Ganesh utsav is celebrated in many ways all over the country, the celebrations in Maharashtra are beyond words. The preparations for the festival start weeks or even months ahead of the Chaturthi, where artisans mold their devotion and talent into beautiful Ganesha idols made from clay. These idols are colorful, of different sizes and more interestingly displaying Ganesha’s various avatars. While one idol is a little Ganesha enjoying his favorite savory – the modak while the other idol is showering love to his devotees. Planning and execution of the themes and decoration of pandals is deliberated through and put into action with passion and love. This enthusiasm is not limited to just sarvajanik celebrations. Even the private celebrations within the Indian households are worth a special mention. The homes are cleaned and decorated for welcoming Bappa. The households then invite their friends and dear ones to visit Bappa and seek blessings.
The first day of the 10-day festival is the Chaturthi, the day Bappa is brought home. Small idols are carried by the male member of the family/mandal with the idol’s face covered with a cloth and the devotees changing “Ganpati Bappa Morya”. Bappa is then placed in a decorated mandap, both at home and a pandal. The veil is lifted after the sthapna pooja. Post the sthapna the celebrations begin. There are cultural programs organized, mouthwatering sweet delicacies offered as prasadams to lord Ganesha and enjoyed by his devotees. There are competitions arranged between the pandals of the locality to award the best idol, best mandap decoration, best theme, and the best cultural event awards.
Today, the Sukhakarta (the one who brings prosperity) and the Dukhaharta (the one who takes away the hardships) has come home. Let’s celebrate his arrival with love and devotion. Let us hope that the celebrations that have been dampened by the pandemic in the last two years come back to life next year and the hardships are over soon, all over the world.
GANPATI BAPPA MORYA!!!
Author :Nikita Thanawala
