Ganesha Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh. This festival is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi during the Hindu month of Bhadra (August and September). Depending on the region of India, this celebration could go on from 1 to 11 days. In the Western state of Maharashtra each home, street corner, and town install their own pandals for the festival. On the first day a new idol of Ganesh made of clay is installed in homes and in communities. Daily rituals, prayers and chants are offered. Four main rituals are associated with this festival. On the first day is the Pranapratishhtha when mantras are chanted to invoke life in the idol. Shhodashopachara are the 16 ways of offering prayers to Lord Ganesh. This is marked by elaborate cultural festivities like singing and dancing. Uttarpuja is done for bidding farewell to the Lord before his journey to the immersion on the last day. Ganpati Visarjan is when the idol is carried to the nearest body of water and immersed with great pomp. Huge crowds from the communities accompany the idol in huge processions on this journey.
In mythology, Lord Ganesh is the younger son of Goddess Gauri Devi (Goddess Parvati). Lord Siva, the consort of Goddess Gauri, is considered as the father of Lord Ganesh. It is said, Goddess Parvati, mother of Lord Ganesh created him from turmeric paste that she used for bathing. She breathes life into him and sends him to guard the entrance while she was having a bath. Unaware of this, Lord Shiva tries to enter his home but is stopped by Lord Ganesh. This enrages Shiva and he beheads the boy. When Goddess Parvati learns of this she is devastated and asks her husband to bring her son back. Lord Siva instructs his disciples to bring the head of the first creature lying with its head facing north. They find the head of an elephant that fits the instructions and bring it back to Shiva. Lord Siva fixes it on Lord Ganesh’s body and brings him back to life.
According to Hindu tradition, Lord Ganesh is considered as “one who removes obstacles” and a deity who grants knowledge, wealth, fortune, health, and other worldly benefits. Lord Ganesh is the Lord of New Beginnings as a remover of obstacles. He is worshipped at the initiation of all religious rites and projects.
How to celebrate
Here we expand on how to perform the 4 rituals – Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja and Ganpati Visarjan.
Pranapratishhtha – Items required for Puja
The following items should be purchased prior to the puja day.
One the day of the puja clean the floor and draw Rangoli. If possible, tie a string of mango leaves by the front door. Take a bath, wear clean clothes.
- Clay Ganesh
- A dupatta or sari to offer to the deity
- Plain water in Kalash (pitcher)
- Fresh and washed mango leaves
- Sandalwood
- Vibhuti
- One coconut
- Kumkum
- Turmeric
- Yellow sacred thread
- Rice
- Betel leaves and betel nuts
- Druva grass blades (21)
- Flowers and fruits
Puja at home (process) (Link to the complete puja process)
Watch Video
Shodasha Upachara vidhi (process)
This is a 16-step service to be executed during worship. It is usually rendered with Vedic chants. Devotees can perform this mentally by closing their eyes, called the manasa puja.
- Dhyanam (meditating on Lord Ganesh to invoke him)
- Recite a short prayer specific to Lord Ganesh and engage the mind into lotus feet of The Lord.
- Avahanam (Inviting the Lord into the altar)
- Invite Lord Ganesh to come into the place of worship or clay idol by chanting the Vedic verse as though you are inviting a loveable guest inside your home.
- Asanam (Seating the Lord)
- Offer the Lord Ganesh a seat. When inviting a guest to your house you would offer a comfortable seat to relax. In a similar way by chanting the Vedic verse offers a seat to the Lord.
- Padyam (Washing the Lord’s feet with water)
- Wash the feet of Lord Ganesh by pouring water at His feet. Imagine you are washing the delicate, lotus feet of the Lord.
- Arghya (offering The Lord water to rinse hands and mouth)
- Achamanam (offering The Lord water to drink)
- Snanam (bathing Lord Ganesh with only water or Panchamrutha abhishekam (Milk, Curds, Honey, Sugar & Ghee) (keep this aside)
- Wash the the Lord with water and wipe clean
- Vastram (dress Lord Ganesh with new clothes)
- Yagnopaveetham (offering Lord Ganesh a clean sacred thread) (Janevu)
- Gandha (spreading fresh sandalwood paste on Lord Ganesh)
- Turmeric & Kumkum offering
- Pushpa (offering flowers)
- Recite 108 names of Lord Ganesh while offering flowers.
- Dhoopam (offering incense smoke)
- Deepam (offering diya)
- Naivedyam (offering Lord Ganesh food)
- Thambulam & Dakshina (offering betel leaves and nuts & money)
- Perform aarti
- Pradakshina and namaskaram (circumambulating the altar, request forgiveness for any omission, mistakes and other unknowing errors.
- Take the holy water or Panchamrutha (request Lord Ganesh’s grace and blessings for everyone. Request Him to return when the Avahana is offered next time.
- If you have created a clay idol or turmeric idol, this should follow visarjan, the idol is immersed in water so that Lord Ganesh returns home after his stay in the devotee’s home.
- If you are out of India or a place that does not have lakes or rivers close to you – take a bucket of water and complete the visarjan in it. Once the idol is dissolved you can pour the water to the plant.
Suggested Chant
- Ganapati Atharvashirsha
- Ganapati Stotram
- Ganesh gayatri mantra
- Ganesh moola mantra
Activity for kids
- Making Lord Ganesh from clay.
- Lentil Lord Ganesh art (cereal and lentil) competition.
- Lord Ganesh – color the drawing.
Puja is expressed in simple language which is helpful for the young generation like me to follow!!!