One of the most well-known Indian holidays is Ganesh Chaturthi, commemorating Lord Ganesh’s birthday. Lord Ganesh has an elephant’s head and a human body, making him half man and half elephant. He is Ganapati, an enigmatic and well-known Hindu demigod. Know more about how the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.
He is the master of impossibilities. He wants to demonstrate to others that everything is possible when you approach transcendence and God. He is a part of this physical universe, coexisting with everyone and favouring people in particular. He is a Vaisnava and acts in a specific capacity as the Supreme Lord’s delegated representative, Lord Krishna.
By preserving the sattvika vibration, or calm vibration, each demigod serves a unique function in human life and constructive energy for human happiness and achievement.
Understanding the Deeper Significance of Worshiping Lord Ganesha
While many devotees seek blessings from Lord Ganesha for material success, it is essential to understand that praying to Ganeshji for material advancement deepens your materialistic bonds and does not free you from attaining the highest perfection of human life, namely service to the Supreme Lord Krishna. A devotee worships Lord Ganesh not for material gain but to have their path toward devotional service to Sri Sri Radha and Krishna cleared of all impediments.
In the Brahma Samhita, it is stated that Lord Ganesha derives his powers to destroy all impediments by worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Narasimhadeva (the form of Krishna who killed the demon Hiranyakashipu). It is recommended in the Bhakti rasamrita sindhu, written by Srila Rupa Goswami (one of the great Vaishnava acharyas), that all devotees should worship Lord Ganesh for this very purpose—to assist them in their spiritual journey by clearing obstacles on their path to serving the Supreme Lord.
What is the story of Lord Ganesha’s birthday?
Lord Ganesha is the son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati and was born with a special background: Lord Shiva wasn’t present to watch the door for Goddess Parvati when she wanted to take a bath one day. Since nobody was around, she created a structure from the turmeric paste she had used to clean her body and gave it life. Ganesha was so born.
Ganesha once had a normal human head rather than an elephant head. One day, when goddess Parvati was going to take a bath, she instructed him to guard the door. Ganesha was so devoted that when Lord Shiva arrived, he was even stopped from entering.
Ganesha was ignorant of the identity of Lord Shiva at the moment.
Ganesha was beheaded by Lord Shiva when he became extremely enraged at not knowing who he was. As soon as Parvati emerged, she rebuked Lord Shiva and threatened to end the world if he didn’t bring Ganesha back.
After realizing his error, Shiva ordered his soldiers to kill the first animal they came across in the forest. When the warriors came across an elephant, they captured its head and used it to cover Ganesha’s body. Ganesha, the son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati, became known as the God with an elephant head.
Why Lord Ganesha is considered as “Lord of entering new dimensions:”
He rules over expanding into new dimensions. The physical world only has three dimensions: length, width, and depth. The consciousness dimension is the fourth, only insentient; dead things can be measured by length, width, and depth. He transports you from the material, lower dimension to the higher, higher spiritual dimension. Because he is the gana or lord of groups, he is known as Ganapati. Groupings of senses and groups of elements.
What is the significance of Lord Ganesha’s elephant head?
It matters that the elephant head exists. If you sketch an elephant’s head from the front on a piece of paper, the trunk will go down and up, and the shape of the head will resemble an OM since this is the sole form that has the significance of OM. Elephants are also incredibly clever animals. He is also the personification of knowledge.
Why Should We Cover Lord Ganesha with Red Vermillion?
Ganesh frequently wears red vermillion on his body. The colour red symbolizes the flushed appearance of someone who is deeply engaged in their task, which causes the blood flow to the body’s various organs to be enhanced and give off a reddish glow. Red flowers are also used to adore him. He stands for perseverance and works tirelessly, contributing to his big hunger. He consequently frequently takes advantage of a constant supply of treats. Ganesh is the God of action as well.
What is offered to Lord Ganesha on Ganesh Chaturthi?
The blessing of Lord Ganesha provides the family joy, tranquillity, and wealth. When followers give Lord Ganesha their offerings of his favourite things, he bestows blessings on them and can fix every issue.
- Modaks are a favourite of Ganpati Bappa. So, on the first day of Lord Ganesha’s birth anniversary, offer modaks.
- Bappa adores the motichur laddoos on the second day of Ganesh Janma Utsav. When worshipping Shri Ganesha in child form, give motichur laddoos.
- As part of your prasad offering to Lord Ganesha, give bean laddoos.
- Present a banana to Lord Ganesha on the fourth day of Ganesh Chaturthi puja. In terms of Sanatan Dharma, it is regarded as the best sort of offering.
- Prepare delectable makhana kheer at home and give it to Ganpati Ji as bhog.
- During the Ganesh Chaturthi puja, give coconuts to Ganpati.
- You can offer homemade mewa laddoos during Ganesh puja.
- Milk-based kalakand is also a favourite of Bappa’s, so followers can offer it occasionally.
- Do present saffron-based shrikhand. It is thought that Lord Ganesha particularly liked these meals.
- You can indulge in various modaks from the market or be baked at home on the final day of Ganeshotsav puja.
What can be donated on Ganesh Chaturthi?
Good deeds are always a wonderful thought on such prosperous occasions. Donating to the needy to make a difference in society is among the best things you can do to wash away your sins and make the day fruitful. Iskcon Donation Department works towards many social causes and helps those in need. If you wish to donate towards a good cause and wash away your sins, visit our website to do your part and help us make a big difference in society. You can donate money to the poor and put a smile on their face by helping them get through tough times. You can donate anything from money to clothes to books, anything that can be useful to a needy person and start the wave of good acts in society.
Ganesh Chaturthi- Information & Pooja Vidhi
It’s interesting to note that each region of India celebrates this holiday differently. Cleaning the place of worship, adorning the mandir or place of worship with flowers and lights, positioning the image of Lord Ganesha, cooking some delectable bhog, reciting hymns, and performing arti are some of the essential rituals that have not changed.
7 Ways To Make Your Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations More Celebratory
Read ahead to know a few ways you can enjoy Ganesh Chaturthi this year:
- Declutter and Clean Your Home
Festivals bring out the tradition of decluttering and deep cleaning our homes. Besides being a good habit, such traditions bring out positivity as you get rid of all the unnecessary things in your life and start fresh, like starting a new chapter with the blessings of Lord Ganesha.
- Decorate Your Worship Place with a Traditional Theme
Without flowers, it’s safe to say that no puja in India is complete. Nothing goes wrong when flowers and leaves are combined traditionally. What if we say that you could upgrade this conventional appearance? We’ll demonstrate how – To improve the appearance, hang the bells at the base of the leaves string. Also, add some crimson flowers for a hint of luxury.
- DIY Decorations Ideas
If you’re a hidden art and craft pro, now is the moment to show it off! You can make DIY decorations quickly and sustainably. So why not construct something home to decorate instead of using the conventional frills and balloons? We provide a range of possibilities for you: Utilize vibrant chart papers to create paper flowers and leaves. The Japanese paper folding technique known as origami is another inventive decorative idea.
- Enhance with a Beautiful Lighting Around the Place
The significance of lighting diyas and putting on lights is to kill the darkness and negativity out of our lives. With beautiful fairy lights and diyas, you can enhance the place’s aesthetic to make it look even more beautiful. Doing so will create a nice and warm vibe for the devotees. Lighting diyas and lights will create a positive environment for everyone and send blessings your way.
- Timeless and Authentic
When discussing Ganesh Chaturthi and attire, we cannot leave out the traditional Nauvari saree in Maharashtrian form. Nauvari is an example of how necessity may lead to ingenuity since Maratha women used to wear it on battlefields. The outfit, which incorporated flexibility and durability, gave rise to what is now known as the nauvari saree. Today, many designers create their spinoffs as fashion statements. To further boost your appearance, go traditional and accessorize your nauvari with a crescent moon bindi and green bangles.
What Foods can be Prepared as an Offering To Lord Ganesha
All know that Lord Ganesha is fond of Modak; hence Ganesh Chaturthi is incomplete without offering Modaks to Lord Ganesha and all the Devotees. Apart from that, you can bring offerings like motichoor laddoo, puffed rice, bananas, durva grass, etc.
Opt for an Eco-Friendly Festival
Indian festivals play a significant role in our traditions and customs. Even though we all want to pass on our traditions to the younger generations, let’s not ruin the environment.
Let’s use the festivals to teach our kids our customs and environmental awareness principles. Celebrate this Ganesh Chaturthi with eco-friendly idols and decorations and enjoy the festival without harming the environment.
Conclusion
Ganesh Chaturthi brings out the spirit of starting a new chapter of your life and becoming a better version of yourself with the blessings of Lord Ganesha. Start this new chapter with good deeds to wash away the sins of past chapters of your life and start fresh as a warm, kind, and helpful person. To mark these new beginnings and perform a good deed, you can donate money to charity in India. Or you can visit our website and contribute to any cause you resonate with. For more such articles, keep reading our blogs. Keep chanting mantra meditation, Hare Rama Hare Krishna!!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Ganesh Chaturthi, and why is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
Hinduism’s 10-day celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, commemorates the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the God of wisdom and prosperity. It starts on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the Hindu calendar’s sixth month, Bhadrapada (August–September).
- Who started Ganesh Chaturthi and why?
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj first celebrated the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration during the Maratha era. The basis for the idea is found in the legend surrounding the birth of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s son, Ganesha. Although several birth stories are associated with him, this article will only discuss the most pertinent one.
- How many days is Ganesh Chaturthi
The ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, known as Ganeshotsav, is observed nationwide. Anant Chaturdashi, also known as Ganesh Visarjan, marks its conclusion.
- When was Ganesh born?
The later Puranas, written from around 600 CE, contains information on Ganesha’s birth. Ganesha references are thought to have been added later, during the 7th and 10th centuries, to earlier Puranas like the Vayu and Brahmanda Puranas.
- Can we do Ganesh Puja During Periods?
The Vedic teachings are opposed to forbidding women from entering temples and denouncing them as filthy. Nowhere in the four Vedas does it say that a woman’s body is unclean or that she cannot do poojas while she is menstruating? So, in response to your inquiry, you can perform Ganesh Puja during periods.
- What should we not do on Ganesh Chaturthi?
During the festival season, devotees and their families should refrain from eating garlic and onions after Ganpati Sthapna. During the event, Lord Ganesha is a guest at your home. Therefore, everything should be served to Ganapati first, including food, water, and prasad.
- What do we eat on Ganesh Chaturthi?
You can also consume ladoo types like Coconut Ladoo, Besan Ladoo, Boondi Ladoo, Rava Ladoo, Puran Poli, Karanji, or Halwa as a naivedhyam or bhog in addition to the traditional modak. Along with sweets, Varan Bhaat is another well-known Maharashtrian dish prepared for Ganesh Chaturthi.
- What can we eat on Ganesh fast?
It is advised to have a satvik meal once a day in one sitting while fasting. You can also eat fruits, milk and its products, fruit juice, rajgira, bhagar, and singhara during the day.
- What is Lord Ganesha’s Favourite fruit?
Although Lord Ganesha is given a variety of seasonal and fresh fruits, such as bhog, it is not surprising that the elephant-headed God prefers bananas. People present garlands made of banana leaves and the banana plant’s stem and flowers. Lord Ganesha receives bananas as part of his bhog.
- Which Colour Ganesha idol is good for home?
According to some Vast experts, a white Ganesha idol should be positioned facing the proper direction.
A white idol is thought to welcome harmony, peace, and prosperity. If you’d like to achieve achievement and personal improvement, you can also bring home a vermilion Ganesha idol.
- What is Ganesh’s favourite colour?
Marigold. Green and yellow are Lord Ganesha’s favourite hues. Because of their bright, pure yellow colour, marigold flowers are a favourite of Lord Ganesha. Whenever Ganesha is worshipped by his followers, you must offer his favourite things to him during Ganesh Chaturthi.
- How can I make Lord Ganesha happy?
Sit in front of an idol of Ganesha to perform your prayers. Light your diya, make some incense, and present sweets like ladoos or modaks. You could also drape a garland around the image or idol to gain his favour.
