Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that is celebrated all over the World to commemorate the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated on the fourth day of waxing phase of the moon the month of Bhadra of the Hindu calendar, which starts on the Shukla Chaturthi. This festival is also known by the names of 'Vinayak Chaturthi' and 'Vinayaka Chavithi'.
About Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is a mythological account related to the birth of this Hindu deity. It is said that Goddess Parvati made Ganesha out of the sandalwood that she used for bathing and then put life into it and made him stand as a guard at the door while bathing. When Lord Shiva returned, Ganesha did not let him enter as he did not know about Lord Shiva and owing to this Shiva got angry and asked his followers to teach him manners. He being born out of the power of Parvati, he defeated everyone who came to attack him. Finally, the the controller, preserver and destroyer of the universe, i.e. the Trinity attacked the child and Shiva beheaded the child and seeing her son dead, he came into her real self of Adi-Shakti and vowed to destroy the universe and those who killed her son. Hearing this, Shiva promised to bring her son to life again and the Trinity hunted for head and they found a head of a baby elephant, which they brought it to Shiva and replaced it with the head of Ganesha. After this Shiva declared that he will be known to the World as Ganesha and also said that he will be worshipped before any other God or Goddesses.
About Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over the World. Besides the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, it is celebrated in Nepal, Thailand, Guyana, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, United States, Canada, Cambodia, Burma, Fiji and Trinidad & Tobago by the Hindus residing there. This is a 10 days festival, which is celebrated with pomp and show. This festival is also known as Ganpati festival as well as Ganeshotsava. On this occasion, the idols of Lord Ganesha are decorated and some of the idols are specially made for this occasion, which is as huge as up to 20 ft tall. People buy idols of the deity and are established in the houses and are worshipped for 9 days. On the 10th day, processions of the idols of Lord Ganesha are taken out and people dance and sing all along the way in the streets. This festival is a major festival of the state of Maharashtra and is celebrated with zest and fervour. People take new clothes and the idols are then immersed in the river or sea ceremoniously. On this occasion, cultural programs are conducted along with fairs to enhance the excitement and add on to the entertainment of the people. This is a major festival of the Hindus and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is believed that Lord Ganesha fulfils all the wishes and desires of his devotee during this time, which makes it an auspicious festival of the Hindus.
About Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is a mythological account related to the birth of this Hindu deity. It is said that Goddess Parvati made Ganesha out of the sandalwood that she used for bathing and then put life into it and made him stand as a guard at the door while bathing. When Lord Shiva returned, Ganesha did not let him enter as he did not know about Lord Shiva and owing to this Shiva got angry and asked his followers to teach him manners. He being born out of the power of Parvati, he defeated everyone who came to attack him. Finally, the the controller, preserver and destroyer of the universe, i.e. the Trinity attacked the child and Shiva beheaded the child and seeing her son dead, he came into her real self of Adi-Shakti and vowed to destroy the universe and those who killed her son. Hearing this, Shiva promised to bring her son to life again and the Trinity hunted for head and they found a head of a baby elephant, which they brought it to Shiva and replaced it with the head of Ganesha. After this Shiva declared that he will be known to the World as Ganesha and also said that he will be worshipped before any other God or Goddesses.
About Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over the World. Besides the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, it is celebrated in Nepal, Thailand, Guyana, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, United States, Canada, Cambodia, Burma, Fiji and Trinidad & Tobago by the Hindus residing there. This is a 10 days festival, which is celebrated with pomp and show. This festival is also known as Ganpati festival as well as Ganeshotsava. On this occasion, the idols of Lord Ganesha are decorated and some of the idols are specially made for this occasion, which is as huge as up to 20 ft tall. People buy idols of the deity and are established in the houses and are worshipped for 9 days. On the 10th day, processions of the idols of Lord Ganesha are taken out and people dance and sing all along the way in the streets. This festival is a major festival of the state of Maharashtra and is celebrated with zest and fervour. People take new clothes and the idols are then immersed in the river or sea ceremoniously. On this occasion, cultural programs are conducted along with fairs to enhance the excitement and add on to the entertainment of the people. This is a major festival of the Hindus and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and is believed that Lord Ganesha fulfils all the wishes and desires of his devotee during this time, which makes it an auspicious festival of the Hindus.