Vinayaka Chavithi
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi(Vinayaka
Chavithi), is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva andParvati, 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. 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 15 September. The
festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth
day of the waxing moon period).
While celebrated all over India, it is most elaborate
in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa. Outside
India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United
States, Canada, Mauritius, Singapore and Fiji.
Legend
Traditional
stories tell that Lord Ganesha was created by goddess Parvati, consort of Lord
Shiva. Parvati created Ganesha out of sandalwood paste that she used for her
bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her
door while she bathed. Lord Shiva returned and, as Ganesha didn't know him, he
didn't allow him to enter. Lord Shiva became enraged, severed the head of the
child and entered his house. After realizing that he had beheaded his own son,
Lord Shiva fixed the head of an elephant in place of Ganesha's head. In this
way, Lord Ganesha came to be depicted as the elephant-headed God.
Date
The festival
is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting
on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon). The
date usually falls between 19 August and 15 September. The festival lasts for
10 or 12 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi. This festival is observed in
the lunar month of bhadrapada shukla paksha chathurthi madhyahana
vyapini purvaviddha. If Chaturthi prevails on both days, the first day
should be observed. Even if chaturthi prevails for the complete duration of madhyahana on
the second day, if it prevails on the previous day's madhyahana period even for
one ghatika (24 minutes), the previous day should be observed.
Celebrations
in India
Two to three
months before Ganesh Chaturthi, artistic plaster of Paris (originally clay)
models of Lord Ganesha are made for sale by specially skilled artisans. They
are beautifully decorated and depict Lord Ganesh in poses. The size of these
statues may vary from 3/4 of an inch to over 70 feet.
Ganesh
Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully
decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas (pandals)
in every locality. The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society
or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions. The pandals are
decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like
flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict
religious themes or current events.
The priest,
usually clad in red or white dhoti and uttariyam (Shawl),
then symbolically invokes life into the statue by chanting mantras. This
ritual is the Pranapratishhtha. After this the ritual called as
Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21
modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. The
statue is anointed with red unguent, typically made of kumkum and
sandalwood paste. Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the
Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the Ganesha stotra from the Narada
Purana are chanted.
Ganesha is
worshiped for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudha Chaturthi to the Ananta
Chaturdashi. On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a
procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a
river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey
towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of his
devotees. This is the ritual known as Ganesha Visarjane in Kannada,
Ganesh Visarjan in Marathi and Vinayaka Nimarjana or Vinayaka
Nimajjanam in Telugu. At individual homes the Visarjan/Nimajjanam
is also done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family tradition. All join in
this final procession shouting "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi
Laukar ya" (O lord Ganesha, come again early next year) in Maharastra and
"Ganesh Maha Raj ki, Jai" (lord Ganesha, victory is yours) in Andhra
Pradesh. After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made,
people carry the idols to the river to immerse it.
Outside
India
Ganesh
Chaturthi is celebrated in the UK by the migrant Hindu population as well as
the large number of Indians residing there. The Hindu culture and Heritage
Society, UK - a South all based
organisation celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi for the first time in London in 2005
at The Vishwa Hindu Temple. The Idol was immersed in the river Thames at
Putney Pier. Another celebration organised by an Gujarati group has been
celebrated in the Southend-on-Sea which attracts over 18000 devotees.
Annual celebrations also take place on the River Mersey at Liverpool.
The festival
is similarly celebrated in many locations across the world. The Hindu
Swayamsevak Sangh USA, an organisation of Hindus based in the US organises many
such events to mark the Hindu festivals.
In USA,
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by various associations of Telugu speaking
people. (Telugu Association of North America, Bay Area Telugu Association and
Balaji Temples across USA.)
The
Philadelphia Ganesh popularly known as PGF is the largest Sarvajanik (fully
contributed by public funds) Hindu festival in North America. Since 2005 the
festival is conducted every year in Bharatiya Temple, Chalfont, Pennsylvania.
The 10 days are marked by processions, devotional programs, cultural events,
India filmi-orchestra and a weekend carnival. While the Marathi community plays
a big role in organising the festival, participation from all communities such
as Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, North Indian, Bengali etc is seen as the reason for
its success and uniqueness.
In Canada,
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by associations of Marathi-speaking people. (MBM
in Toronto, MSBC in Vancouver, etc.)
Celebration
of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius dates back to 1896. The first Ganesh Chaturthi
Puja was held in the 7 Cascades Valley next to Henrietta village by the
Bhiwajee family who is still celebrating this pious festival for more than a
century. Over the years the festival gained such popularity on the island that
Mauritian government has attributed a public holiday for that day.