Ganesh Chaturthi In India

Ganesh Chaturthi, also called Vinayaka Chavithi, is an auspicious Hindu festival which is celebrated for 10 days every year. The festival is celebrated in the Bhadra month as per the Hindu calendar which generally falls in mid-August to September. It marks the birthday of the beloved elephant-headed Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha is known as the God of wealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdom and prosperity, and that’s why most Hindus remember him and seek his blessings before starting any important work. Lord Ganesh is known by 108 different names like Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vighnaharta among others. This festival is celebrated with great devotion and joy by Hindus throughout the world. In India, it is majorly celebrated in states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the major festivals celebrated in India and abroad by Hindus with great enthusiasm and devotion. The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha; the Lord of knowledge, wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.

 

History:-

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi finds its origin in the Maratha reign, with Chatrapati Shivaji starting the festival. The belief lays in the story of the birth of Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Although there are various stories attached to his birth, the one most relevant is shared here. Goddess Parvati was the creator of Ganpati. She, in the absence of Lord Shiva, used her sandalwood paste to create Ganesha and put him to guard while she had gone for bathing. While she was gone, Lord Shiva got into a fight with Ganesha as he did not allow him to enter, as per his mother`s orders. Enraged, Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha`s head. When Parvati saw this sight, she took the form of Goddess Kali and threatened to destroy the world. This worried everyone and they requested Lord Shiva to find a solution and calm the rage of Goddess Kali. Shiva then ordered all his followers to immediately go and find a child whose mother has her back towards her child in negligence and bring his head. The first child seen by the followers was that of an elephant and they, as ordered, cut his head and brought to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva immediately placed the head on Ganesha`s body and brought it to life again. The rage of Maa Kali was calmed and Goddess Parvati was overwhelmed, once again. All the Lords blessed Ganesha and the day is today celebrated for the same reason.

Ganesha puja starts with installing a clay idol of Lord Ganesha in your home. Various dishes are cooked for the offering. The idol is given a bath with pure water and then decorated with flowers. Jyoti is lit and then the aarti begins. Various bhajans and mantras are chanted at this time. It is believed that chanting the mantras with complete devotion brings or invokes life to the idol. It is also believed that during this period, Ganesha visits the home of his devotees and brings prosperity and good fortune with him. For the same reason, the day is observed as a very auspicious day.

Chanting the mantra “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha” helps in the fulfilment of all desires.

Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.

The Values that Youth should Learn from Lord Ganesha

 

Being Resourceful and Innovative:

The well-known tale of the miracle fruit is a good example of Lord Ganesha’s thoughtful and clever way of handling problems in life, even with limited resources. When Lord Shiva asked Ganesha and his brother to circle the world thrice to get the Fruit, Ganesha was aware of his limitations in travelling the world on his tiny mouse and took a different approach to tackle the situation. He circled his parents, mentioning they were his ultimate ‘world’, and subsequently got the fruit ahead of his brother. His way of handling the situation shows how resourceful Lord Ganesha was. When he faced a crisis, how he acted quick enough to come up with a plausible solution with his presence of mind.

Being a Good Listener:

Lord Ganesha was a seeker of knowledge and wisdom. And that is why he is found to have large ears. This symbolizes that one should listen attentively to become knowledgeable and communicate effectively. Being a good listener is a great virtue that helps one analyze situations and gain information more efficiently to make better decisions in life. When children are able to listen attentively, they would grow up wiser and smarter.

Respecting Parents:

Lord Ganesha is the epitome of devotion and respect towards parents. The act of circling his parents as a mark of them being his world shows his love and respect for his parents. No one in the world can be the embodiment of God and ‘world’ than one’s parents. Knowing about Lord Ganesha can help children learn about his love and concerns for his parents and how to love and respect them.

Being Dutiful:

Lord Ganesha is known for his duteous attitude towards his parents. The tale of him fulfilling his mother’s order and facing the repercussions of his father, Lord Shiva, is a well-known example of being dutiful, despite all the consequences. There is no greater virtue than obeying one’s parents, and that is what Lord Ganesha did to finallyend up beheaded by his own father when he refused to budge. However, later his head was replaced by that of an elephant by Lord Shiva himself knowing he was only bound to his duty. Though Lord Ganesha was well-aware that his actions would cost him his own life, he stood on fulfilling his duty as a son to obey his mother’s words. This very story is a life lesson for children to understand being dutiful and how much they should be bound to fulfil their responsibilities.

Being Humble and Respectful:

Though Lord Ganesha has a huge physique, he is more humble than any other deity. He rides a puny mouse which symbolizes the fact that he is humble and reverent even towards a tiny creature. Being humble and being respectful to those smaller than us is a quality that needs to be learned from Lord Ganesha. One should be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and must learn humility and politeness.