Festivals in India- Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated being the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is the God of prosperity and wisdom.

This day is celebrated in the Bhadrapada month and falls around August or September.

Ganesh chaturthi is popular for his humor sense and as well for his wisdom. Lord Ganesha is believed as the auspicious God for any beginning.

Hence, he is worshipped before any festival and any new venture is embarked only after praying him. He is present for all the happy occasions such as marriages.

Maharashtra observes this festival with great fervor and people contribute towards this festival for the pandals, massive decoration, the Prasad and the puja.

Lokmanya Tilak induced Ganesh Chaturthi in the aim of reinforcing the nationalism feelings. However, today it is celebrated all over India.

Many localities compete with each other in making an outstanding decoration and arrangement.

There are lots of revelry and fanfare, but the chanting of slokas while installing the Lord Ganesha idol keeps all its devotees to a standstill. Food and special Prasad is cooked without the inclusion of garlic and onions.

Aarthi is a ritual done daily and is performed in the morning as well as in the evening. People rush home and take active part in the festival. The Prasad offered is the modak, a sweet believed to be the favorite of Lord Ganesha.

This Prasad is available in the stalls and can be bought from the shops as well. Ganesh chaturthi is celebrated in majority of the parts of India. On this day everyone in the family wears clean clothes and sing hymns.

They shower flowers on Lord Ganesha. Few people observe fast on this day, but majority of the people believe that this day is the birthday of their favorite Lord Ganesha and is an ideal day for eating and feasting and not fasting.

People who fast also eat sweets such as sesame laddoo or sweets such as rewari and gajak. They also take coffee and tea during the fasting period.

Rajasthan people place the Ganesh idol in front of their homes and place vermilion such that any passerby can apply it on the forehead and acquire the blessings.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for ten day and the Mumbai streets are packed. Firecrackers declare the processions arrival and people acquire the glimpse of this god.

On the tenth day Lord Ganesha is immersed in water and people go dancing and jumping throughout their way. After this festive is over, people keep waiting for the next year to come to celebrate this favorite festival.