Ganesha Chaturthi (Vinayak Chaturthi)

Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindus festival celebrated around the world as on the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. This festival also known as 'Vinayak Chaturthi' or Ganeshutsav ("festival of Ganesha"),it is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). The date usually falls between 19 August and 20 September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of the waxing moon period).

Where

Ganesha Chaturthi celebrated all over India, mostly in Maharashtra, Gujarat, TamilNadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Outside India, it is celebrated widely in Nepal and by Hindus in the United States, Canada, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Fiji, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guyana.

When

The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon). The date usually falls between August and September. The festival lasts for 10 or 12 days, ending on Anant Chaturdashi.

More Details

Ganeshutsav starts with the installation of these Ganesh idol in colorfully decorated homes or mandapas (pandals). The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group. The homes and pandals are decorated specially by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. Ganesh Puja simply performed with family members within the household or by a priest in mandapas. Aarti is performed morning and evening, as long as the Ganesh idol is at home. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. Vinayak Chaturthi continued for ten days gave people of every religion the scope to interact and know each other. It is from that time this festival has been celebrated every year with great fervour all over the country. The festival is similarly celebrated in many locations across the world. At individual homes the Visarjan is also done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family tradition. In Visarjan the Ganesh idol is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea.

History

Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Parvati asked him to guard at the door while she was in her bath. When Lord Shiva returned and was stopped by this unknown child Ganesha, Shiva in rage cut off the head of that child. As soon as Parvati got to know about the severing of head of her son, she asked Shiva to bring him to life again. Shiva then implanted the head of an elephant on Ganesha's body. This re-birth of Ganesha is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as 'Vinayaka Chaturthi' or 'Vinayaka Chavithi'.

Images

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Visarjan Ganesh Visarjan

References

Wikipedia :Ganesh Chaturthi in India
See the dates on which Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated :

Ganesh Chaturthi

Year Month Day Day of Week
2008 September 03 Wednesday
2009 August 23 Sunday
2010 September 11 Saturday
2011 September 01 Thursday
2012 September 19 Wednesday
2013 September 09 Monday
2014 August 29 Friday
2015 September 17 Thursday
 

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