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Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark
the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh, son of Lord Shankar and Goddess
Parvati. This festival is celebrated for 10 days in Maharashtra state and
throughout India. This festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva
Shukla-paksh of Hindu calender.
Devotees of Ganesh bring the idol of Ganesh to their houses on this day
with chants of 'GANPATI BAPPA MORYA'. and worship the Idol of Lord Ganesh.
People do puja, of the idol twice a day - morning and evening till the
idol is in their home. Maharashtrians make sweets called 'Modak' and offer
them to Ganesh.
The Ganesh idols are kept for either one and a half, five, seven or ten
days and then the 'Ganesh Visarjan' is performed, whereby the idols are
immersed in sea waters.
Freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak started the custom of 'Sarvajanik
Ganeshotsav' (public festival) in Maharashtra, during the Indian
Independence fight against the British. The aim behind this was to bring
the people close to each other. From then on, this festival is celebrated
in almost every lane, housing society and area in Maharashtra and thus
making Ganesh Chaturthi a public festival. Huge 'pandaals' or stages are
set up and decorated beautifully and people worship the idol of Lord
Ganesh together.
MORE ON LORD GANESHA
THE MEANING OF GANAPATI:
Ganesha is a son of lord Shiva and Parvati. When Shiva was coming back
from his "Samadhi", he didn't know that Ganesha was his son.
Ganesha didn't let lord Shiva in the house because mother Parvati was
bathing. Lord Shiva got mad and cut his head off and went in to the house.
When Parvati saw the bloody 'Trishul' she got scared and asked him what
happened. Lord Shiva said that he had cut a little boy's head off because
he wouldn't let him in to his own house. Parvati cried and told Shiva that
Ganesha was his son. Shiva felt bad for what he did, and threw his "Trishul."
The "Trishul" returned with a head of a baby elephant. Lord
Shiva put the head on Ganesha's body and gave him life. Lord Shiva also
gave him a 'Vardaan' that, every time something good is supposed to
happen, then people will take your name before mine.
WHY THE ELEPHANT HEAD Why did Shiva decided to put elephant's
head instead of his own head lying on the ground? The big ears, nose,
small eyes, big belly and head are the signs of a "Mahapurush."
The big head symbolizes lots of knowledge. Big ears symbolizes the ability
to hear well and that listening makes you a better person. Small eyes
symbolizes the ability to see the future and the reality instead of the
fake outside. Big nose (trunk) symbolizes the ability to smell good and
the bad in the person from far away. The big belly symbolizes the ability
to digest everything good or bad from the people..
WHAT ABOUT THE MOUSE? Mouse is considered to be his vehicle for
transportation. The mouse is chosen for his speed. Because mouse runs
around all the time it needs a heavy person like Ganesha to sit on it.
This symbolizes your thoughts and hopes. Thoughts and hopes run around in
any direction and you need to control them. |
