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Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world. |
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Before the start of the festival, people start to buy Ganesh idols. Shops sell Ganesh idols in various shapes, even large ones that can reach up to a height of several meters. Upon bringing the idol home, the Hindus start to decorate the idol with flower garlands and lights. The devotees chant prayers and during the prayers, flowers, rice & coins are used. After the ceremony, sweets and fruits are offered to guests.
The Puja can be a simple one performed with family members within the household and to the accompaniment of a cassette of Shri Ganesh mantras, or an elaborate one, involving a priest who would come home and perform the puja. 'Modak' is the most famous and most typical food preparation of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. As long as the Ganesh idol is at home, Aarti is performed morning and evening (dusk, or at the hour when artificial lamps are lighted in the house). At the same time, all the members present throw Kumkum on the idol. After the Aarti, flowers, Haldi and Kumkum are offered to the women, and Prasad (made of dried desiccated coconut mixed with castor sugar) is distributed to all those present. During Ganesh Chaturthi, Aarti is performed five times: to the Ganesh idol, followed by Vitthal, Shankar (Shiva), Devi (Parvati) and Dattatreya (Kartikeya). The Aarti ends with a "Mantra Pushpanjali". |
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During the festivals day's beautifully sculpted Ganesh idols are installed in the Mandaps (large tents) that are colourfully decorated, depicting religious themes or current events. Each locality make their own special pandal. People attribute considerable social significance to the pandals as communities compete with each other to put up a more outstanding one. Each pandal has a different priest. Amidst much fanfare and revelry, the priest installs the idol of Ganesha in the locality to the chanting of shlokas (Sanskrit holy verses). Special prasad and food (cooked without onions and garlic) are prepared to mark the first day of the puja. Aarti (a ritualistic puja with hymns) is performed twice a day in the morning and in the evening. Most people of the community attend the evening aarti. They actually rush home from work to take part in the festivities and gather around the brightly-lit Ganesha.
People offer prasad of modaks or peras (a type of sweetmeat), coconut, hibiscus or any other red flower, sheaves of grass, vermilion, turmeric powder and rice. The prasad can be bought from the little stalls or puja shops all over town. During Ganesh Chaturthi, in most parts of the country people offer prasad to the image of Ganesha in their mini temples at home. The entire family wears fresh and clean clothes and assembles in the sacrosanct area. As they sing hymns, everyone is given some flowers and rice in their hands. These are later showered on Ganesha. Sometimes a few families get together in someone�s house for the aarti. Each ceremony is rounded off with people tucking in toothsome modaks, in keeping with Ganesha�s style.
Only a few people observe a fast on this festival as, for the most part, the general feeling is that Ganesha�s birthday should be an occasion for pigging out and not for fasting. The few who do keep a fast are allowed to eat various sweets like til ka ladoo (a round sweetmeat made of sesame, flour and sugar), gajak, rewari (sweets made of jaggery and nuts), along with tea and coffee. In Rajasthan, people place a garlanded idol of Ganesha smeared with vermilion, right outside their homes. If front of the image they keep a plate with some vermilion and turmeric powder so each passerby can put a pinch of the sacred powder on his forehead and feel blessed by Ganesha. |
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The festival comes to an end on the day of Anant Chaudas. On this day, the idols of Ganesha are taken from various pandals, doorsteps, localities and puja rooms for a truly royal ride. The streets of Mumbai are packed with multitudes as each locality comes out on the streets with its Ganesha. Amidst shouts of �Ganpati Bappa Moriya Pudhchya Varshi Lavkarya� (Marathi for 'Oh Ganpati My Lord, return soon next year'), a sea of humanity carries the idols to the waters of the Arabian Sea. Firecrackers announce the arrival of the procession that halts every now and then for people to get a last glimpse of their favourite God and seek his blessings, for he is the remover of all obstacles. The idols are carried into the holy waters, and face the direction of the local community centres they started their journey from, till their visarjan, or immersion. In other towns and villages, folks carry the idols to the local river or tank for the visarjan ceremony. As dusk takes charge of the skies, people return to their localities and homes, awaiting Ganesha�s return the following year. In this manner Ganesh is a deity of auspiciousness, wisdom and wealth. Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival inspiring devotees to inculcate redemptive virtues in their lives. |
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