Significance
Lord Ganesh is revered as the deity of knowledge, wealth, and good
fortune, and is typically invoked at the outset of each new endeavour or
journey.
Vighnaharta is the name given to Lord Ganesha (meaning the one who
removes obstacles). As a result, worshippers fast and worship Lord Ganeshain
order to obtain his blessings and to overcome all difficulties in their lives.
The most important Vinayaka Chaturthi, however, occurs in the month of
Bhadrapada. Ganesha Chaturthi is the name given to this festival. Hindus all
across the world commemorate Lord Ganesha's birthday on this day.
Benefits
Every month, Vinayaka Chaturthi fasting is celebrated to seek Lord
Ganesha's blessings. On Vinayaka Chaturthi, devotees worship him in order to
avoid difficulties in life. Lord Ganesha is said to bestow pleasure and fortune
upon people who follow the fast with greatest devotion and purity.
Deity
Lord Ganesh
Rituals
Though the celebration is the same throughout India and has
similar sentiments, each area has its own customs and traditions. At various
locations, the celebrations extend between 7 and 10 days. The following are a
few examples of popular customs:
1. Ganapati statue installation:A statue of the Elephant God is
placed on a pedestal, either at home or in a public area, and a pranprathishtha
puja is performed.
Not gazing at the moon: People avoid
looking at the moon on the first night of the festival since it is said to be a
bad omen.
1.
Prayers: The
statue is washed, puja is performed with shloka chanting and flower and sweet
offerings are made, and aarti (circumlocution of the idol with a plate filled
with a lighted earthen/metal lamp, kumkum, and flowers) is performed. Every day
in the evenings and, in certain areas, in the mornings, prayer sessions are
held at Ganapati temples and public structures.
2.
Special
performances: Dance, music, and skits may be performed at several Lord Ganesh
public installations.
3.
Making and
consuming modak: Modak is Ganapati's favourite dessert, according to legend. As
a result, during the celebration, these dumplings are cooked and distributed as
prasad. During this occasion, other food items like as laddoo, barfi, pedha,
and sundal are also distributed.
4.
Visarjan:
This is the immersion of the idol in a body of water, which takes place on the
festival's last day, which can be anytime between the seventh and eleventh
days. The idol is followed by a parade of people reciting bhajans, shlokas, and
hymns. People ask for forgiveness for their past transgressions and for God's
assistance in staying on the virtuous path. Ganesha is praised for paying a
visit to the home/community, for eliminating barriers from people's paths, and
for bestowing auspiciousness.
Farewell Procession
The festival's big finale is the goodbye parade, or Ganesh
Visarjan. This is a festival in which the god's placed idols are immersed in a
body of water. Immersion might take place in a nearby pond, lake, river, or
sea. If you don't have access to a big body of water, you can perform symbolic
immersions at home by dipping the idol in a small vessel or water barrel.
In a massive procession,
the idol is carried from its site of installation — a house or a public pandal
– to the water body, accompanied by worshippers singing bhajans or songs.
Story/Katha
Fasting and devotion of Ganesh Chaturthi are very important in
Hinduism. On the day of Chaturthi, worshipping Lord Ganesha with rituals gives
pleasure, prosperity, and contentment. Every month has two Chaturthi, according
to the Panchang: the first Shukla Paksha Chaturthi and the second Krishna
Paksha Chaturthi. The Chaturthi that falls in Shukla Paksha is known as
Vinayaka Chaturthi, while the Chaturthi that falls in Krishna Paksha is known
as Sankashti Chaturthi. The scriptures state that worshipping Lord Ganesha on
Ganesh Chaturthi, as well as listening to and reading the fast tale, is highly
good. It is believed that by listening to or reading the Ganesh Chaturthi tale,
all of one's sorrows will be alleviated.
Ganesh chaturthi fasting story
Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati were formerly sitting on the banks
of the river Narmada, according to a tale linked with Ganesh Chaturthi. Mother
Parvati invited Lord Shiva to play Chaupar there, and Shivaji asked Mother
Parvati who would determine if we won or lost. When Mother Parvati heard the
query, she fashioned an effigy out of some grass straws that were lying around,
stuffed her life into it, and exclaimed to him, "Son!" We want to
play chaupar, but no one is present to determine our win or defeat, so you
become a witness to our game and just tell us who won and who lost at the end?
The game of Chaupad was founded by Lord Bhole Shankar and Mother
Parvati. Mother Parvati won the game all three times, but when the grass boy
questioned about the defeat and triumph in the last round, she proclaimed
Mahadev the winner. Mother Parvati grew enraged when she heard this and cursed
the kid, saying he would be crippled on one leg and endure suffering while
laying in the dirt on the riverbank.
When the youngster saw the mother's anger, he quickly apologised
and explained that he had made a mistake owing to my ignorance. Please forgive
me and point me in the right direction. Mother Parvati then pardoned the kid
and predicted that the snake-girls would gather here to worship Ganesh. By
listening to his teachings and fasting Ganesha, you will be able to reach me.
Mother Parvati proceeded to Mount Kailash after saying this.
Snake-girls arrived for Ganesh worship a year later, in the month
of Shravan. He fasted Ganeshji and explained the fasting practise to that youngster,
who then fasted for 12 days. Ganesha appeared to him, pleased with the fast,
and offered the kid a blessing, allowing him to travel on his own to his
parents on Mount Kailash. The youngster arrived at Kailash after receiving a
blessing from Ganeshji and saw his parents.
Following this, Shiva
fasted for 21 days, as a result of which Lord Shiva's dissatisfaction in
Goddess Parvati's thoughts dissipated.
Aarti
Jai Ganesh Deva Aarti
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;
Mata jakiparvati, pita mahadeva;
Eka dantadayavanta, char bhujadhari;
Mathesindurasohe, muse ki savari;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;
Andhan ko aankhdeta, kordhina ko kaya;Banjhan ko putradeta,
nirdhana ko maya;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva;.
Paanachadhe, phoolachadhe, aur chadhemeva;
Ladduan ka bhogalage, santakarenseva;
Jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh, jai Ganesh deva.
Sukha Karta DukhHarta in Marathi
Sukhkartadukhhartavartavighnachi,
nurvipurvi prem krupajayachi;
Sarvangisundarutishendurachi,
kanthizalke mal mukta- phalachi;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatremankamanapurti;Ratnakhachitfaratujgaurikumra,
chandanachiutikumkumkeshara;
Hirejaditmugutshobhato bara,
runzunatinupurecharnighagaria;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatremankamanapurti;
Lambodarpitambarphadivarbandhana,
saralsondvakratundatrinayan;
Das ramacha vat pahesadana,
sanktipavavenirvanirakshavesurvarvandana;
Jay dev jai dev jay mangal murti,
darshanmatremankamanapurti.
Mantra
ॐएकदन्तायविद्महेवक्रतुंडायधीमहितन्नोबुदि्धप्रचोदयात।।
How to fast and break
Devotees fast or vrat on this day and start their day early by
bathing, changing their clothing, and praying to Lord Ganesha for his
blessings.
Devotees can pray and give prasad to the Lord after taking Sankalp
and sitting in Dhyana or meditation for some time. Only after sighting the moon
and conducting puja and chanting the Ganesh Mantra is it possible to break the
fast.
Food
Modak is the main sweet delicacy served during the celebration (modak in
Marathi and Konkani, modakam or kudumu in Telugu, modaka or kadubu in Kannada,
kozhakatta or modakkam in Malayalam and kozhukattai or modagam in Tamil). A
modak is a steamed or fried rice or wheat flour dumpling packed with grated
coconut, [jaggery], dried fruits, and other seasonings. Another famous sweet
dish is karanji (karjikai in Kannada), which has a semicircular form and is
similar tomodak in composition and flavour. In Goa, this sweet dish is known as
Nevri and is associated with the Ganesh festival among Goans and the Konkani
diaspora.
Date & Time
Vinayaka Chaturthi will be celebrated on June 14, 2021. Jyeshtha, Shukla
Chaturthi begins at 21:40, Jun 13, 2021, and ends at 22:34, Jun 14, 2021
Dos/ Don’ts
Do not do the visarjan rites at an inconvenient hour. Don't send
Bappa to his heavenly dwelling without providing him with the food he'll need
on his way back. Don't say your goodbyes to Bappa without singing the aarti.
After Lord Ganesha is carried out for the visarjan, do not lock the door to
your residence.
Ganesh Visarjan rituals' dos and don'ts
1) If at all feasible, devotees should do the immersion at home in
a bucket or drum.
2) Those who live near natural water bodies such as ponds and
lakes can go to the approved immersion location if the idol cannot be submerged
at home. Those who want to be around manmade ponds and water tanks might visit
such places.
3) The final puja and aarti must take place at home rather than at
the visarjan location.
4) Follow the social distancing procedures, wear a mask, and keep
their hands clean.
5) No rituals should be performed. People should not congregate in
big groups.
6) When visiting immersion
sites, devotees must not immerse the idols on their own. They must instead hand
up Lord Ganesha's idol to the staff.
