Ganesh Chaturthi Festival:
Table of Contents
Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated across the country on 23 September 2023 this year. Ganesh Chaturthi is ten-day festival. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great joy throughout the year of India. Starting from Ganesh Chaturthi, this festival is celebrated till the immersion of the idol of Lord Ganesha tillAnant Chaturdashi.
Ganesha Chaturthi Festival Information:
The festival ofGanesh Chaturthiis celebrated as the birth of Ganesh.Ganesh jiis the son of Lord Shiva and mother Parvati.Ganesh Chaturthiis known by a total of 108 names. Ganesha is worshiped in Hindu before all the gods.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
According to First Story(Ganesh Chaturthi):
Shri Ganesh jiwas born on theChaturthi of Bhadrapad Shukla Paksha. That iswhy Ganesh Chaturthi is celebratedon this day every year. The celebration of Lord Ganesha’s birthday is known asGanesh Chaturthi.
According to the beliefs of Hinduism, there are many stories related to thebirth of Ganesha. So let’s know about two such stories.
It is said that Ganesha was made byGoddess Parvatifrom the scum taken from her body. When Mata Parvati went to worship, Ganesha sat outside and said “Don’t let anyone come in till I come back.” WhenLord Shivareturned home, Ganesh tried to stop him. Shiv ji and Ganesh ji were unaware of each other. Both of them did not know about each other’s relationship. When Ganesh ji did not allow Shiva ji inside,Shiva jibecame angry. In anger, Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head.
Why is Ganesha called Vighnaharta:
WhenGoddess Parvaticame to know about all this, she became angry with Shiva. Shiva then promisedMata Parvatito bring back Ganesha’s life. And put the elephant’s head on the torso of Ganesha. In this way Ganesha got life again. It is said thatGoddess ParvatimadeGaneshaat the request of the gods. So that they can kill the demons. That is why he is also calledVighnaharta Shree Ganesha.
According to Second Story(Ganesh Chaturthi):
At the beginning of universe, when the question arose as to who should be considered the first worshiper. So the deity approachedLord Shiva. Then Shiva said that the first thing that will revolve around the entire earth will be considered as the first worship. In this way all the gods started sitting in their vehicles to revolve around the earth.
Lord Ganesha‘s vehicle is a mouse. So how could Lord Ganesha be able to do circumambulation first. Then Lord Ganesha with his wisdom and cleverness completed the three revolutions of his father Lord Shiva and mother Parvati and stood with folded hands.
ThenLord Shivasaid, “There is no one greater and wiser than you in this whole world. By doing the three revolutions of mother and father, you have completed the circumambulation of the three locos and you have got its merit which is bigger than the revolutions of the earth.” “Therefore, a person who will worship you before starting any work will not have to face any kind of difficulties.”
Since thenLord Ganeshastarted being worshiped first. Therefore, Ganesh Lord is worshiped inGanesh Chaturthi. All the devotees celebratingGanesh Chaturthi immersethe idol of Lord Ganesha installed on Ganesh Chaturthi on the eleventh day of Anant Chaturdashi. This is how the Ganesh festival ends.
Why Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days(Ganesha Visarjan):
Followers of religious texts when Ved Vyas ji narrated the story of Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha for 10 days. Then Ganesh ji closed his eyes. When the eyes were opened after 10 days, it was found that the temperature of Lord Ganesha was very high.
Therefore,Ganesh jiis worshiped for the next ten days of Ganpati establishment. And on the eleventh day the idol of Lord Ganesha is immersed.Ganesh Visarjanis also a symbol of the fact that this body is made of clay and finally it has to be mixed in the soil.
Who first celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi(Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration)?
In 1893, Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak organized aGanesh festivalon a scale to mobilize against the British. In which people participated on a large scale and thusGanesh Chaturthistarted to be celebrated throughout the nation.
