Ganesh Chaturti is a festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It is also known as Vinayak Chaturti or Vinayak Chaviti, and is celebrated world over by Hindus as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival itself lasts for fourteen days, and begins on the Shukla Chaturti day, which is the fourth day of the waxing moon phase, and ends on the 14th day of the waxing moon phase, which is called as Anant Chaturdashi. Although the festival is celebrated globally, it is most grandly observed in Maharashtra.

Historically, the festival was probably celebrated for the first time in Pune as a public celebration under the reign of Shivaji, who founded the Maratha Empire in 1630-80. Following that, during the period from 1749 to 1818, Peshwas had encouraged the celebrations in Pune. When the Peshwas fell, Ganesh Chaturthi lost its state support and became a private family celebration till it was renewed by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893. He popularized Ganesh Chaturthi in a bid to bridge the gap between different castes and generate a sense of patriotic fervour among people against the British rule.

Rituals of the Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja and Items for the Pooja

On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi devotees take a bath and then dress in new clothes. They then perform the Vinayaka Chaturti. They then deck the clay idol of Ganesha and place it in the pandal. The face of the idol is covered with a cloth of saffron colour, and the idol is placed in the makhar in the houses and the pandals. The idol is decorated with garlands of flowers and sandalwood paste. Just before praying to Ganesha, a kalash filled with holy water is placed. This is the Purna Kumbha Kalasha Sthapana. After this, the Pranapratishtha is done to invoke life into the idol of Lord Ganesha with the mantras. This is followed by Shhodashopachara, which comprises the 16 ways of worship. For this, coconuts, twenty-one modaks, betel leaves and betel nuts, 21 blades of dhruva grass, incense sticks, sandalwood paste, sindur, camphor, cotton wicks are required. 21 signifies the five organs of action, the five organs of perception, five essential pranas, five elements and the mind. Devotees try performing the rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja with a clean body and pure mind and heart.

While doing the rituals, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad are chanted, and the Ganesha Stotra from the Narada Purana is chanted. After the mantras, Ashtottara Shatanamavali or 108 names of Lord Ganesha and the Ganesh Chaturthi Katha is recited. Finally, a Ganesha aarti is recited and is performed with an earthen lamp (diya) and a cotton wick dipped in pure ghee. This is done twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. People offer prasad of modaks, laddus, pedas, charnamrit made of honey, curd, ghee, milk and fresh flowers to Lord Ganesha.

On the last day i.e. Ananta Chaturdashi, the idol is taken in grand procession with great pomp and joy by saying “Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya” which means “O father Ganesha, come again early next year.” The idol is then immersed in a river or sea.

Ganesh  Slokas

Suklaambara Dharam Vishnum

Sashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam

Prasanna Vadhanam Dhyaayet

Sarva Vighna Upashaanthaye

Agajaanana Padmaarkam

Gajaananam Aharnisham

Anekadantham Bhaktaanaam

Ekadantam Upaasmahey

Thathpurushyaaya Vidhmahe

Vakarathundaaya Dheemahi

Thanno Dhandhi Prachodayaaath

Vakratunda Mahakaaya

Suryakoti Samaprabha

Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva

Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada

Vishvaathi bhootham hrudhiyoginam vai

Prathyacharoopena vibhanthamekam

Sadhaa niraalambha samaadhigamyam

Thamekadhantham sharanam vrajama

Om Eaekadanthaye Vidhmahe

Vakratundaye Dheemahi

Tanno Buddhi Prachodhayat

Gajananam Bhootha Ganaathi Sevitham,

Kavitha Jambu Manasara Bakshitham

Uma Sutham, Soka Vinaasa Haaranam,

Namaami Vigneshwara, Phaadha Pankajam

Mooshika Vahana Modhaga Hasta

Shyamala Karna Vilambitha Sutra

Vamana Rupa Maheshwara Putra

Vigna Vinayaka Pada Namaste

Tamil Slokam

Vaakundam Nalla Manamundam, Maa Malaraal

Nokundam, Meni Nudangaadu Pookondu,

Thuppar Thirumeni Thumbikaiyaan Paadham,

Thappamal Saarvaar Thamakku.

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