Ganesh Chaturthi in 2023

Ganesh Chaturthi :

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune. This festival typically falls in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada, which usually corresponds to August or September in the Gregorian calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi is widely celebrated in India, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, and has gained popularity in other parts of India.

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrate in 2023 on 19th September and 10 day festival will end on Anant chaturdashi which falls on 28th September 2023.

Here are some key aspects of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival:

1. Ganesha Idol Installation: People install clay or plaster of Paris idols of Lord Ganesha in their homes or public places. These idols vary in size, from small ones for personal worship to massive ones for public celebrations. At present time people make eco friendly idols of Lord Ganesha by Chocolate or milk and at visharjan time it distributes between poor children.

2. Worship and Offerings: Devotees offer prayers, flowers, fruits, sweets, and other offerings to Lord Ganesha. Special aarti (prayer rituals) are performed, and hymns and bhajans (devotional songs) are sung in his honor. 

   During the worship of Lord Ganesha, sweets like modak or laddu are commonly offered. In other ceremonies, fruits, coconuts, or even cooked meals may be used as Prasad.

3. Visarjan (Immersion): Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations typically last for 10 days, with the grand finale being the immersion of the Ganesha idols in a water body, such as a river, lake, or sea. This ritual is known as "Ganpati Visarjan." It symbolizes the cycle of creation and dissolution and is a farewell to Lord Ganesha, who is believed to return to his heavenly abode on this day.

4. Community Celebrations: Public celebrations often include processions, music, dance, and elaborate decorations. In cities like Mumbai, the immersion processions are particularly grand, attracting huge crowds.

5. Environmental Concerns: In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the environmental impact of using non-biodegradable materials, such as plaster of Paris, for making Ganesha idols. Many people have shifted towards using eco-friendly materials like clay and natural colors to minimize the ecological footprint of the festival.

This festival celebrates Ganesha as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of obstacles as well as the God of wisdom and intelligence.

The traditional Ganesh Mantra is 

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha