Celebrations
Ladoos are distributed on ganesh chaturathi
- by tradition ladoos were placed in different corners
of the house and eaten before the meal. Milk is offered
to idols of lord Ganesha at home and at temples, and Ganesh
puja is performed at all temples and hi-house prayer rooms.
Hindus pray to images of Lord Ganesha, large and small,
many of them made specially for the occasion by cottage
industries and street side artisans, and those that do
not wish to keep the idols alive by daily prayers, offerings
and lighting oil lamps, immerse them in the nearest water
body.
Celebrate the great Ganesha festival
A life-like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh
Chaturthi. The size of this idol may vary from
3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet.
On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms
in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for
people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually
clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into
the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is
the pranapratishhtha. After this the shhodashopachara
(16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery,
21 modakas (rice flour preparation), 21 durva (trefoil)
blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed
with red unguent (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony,
Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati
Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha
stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.
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For 10 days, from Bhadrapad
Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day,
the image is taken through the streets in a procession
accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed
in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off
of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in
Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes
of all man. All join in this final procession shouting
"Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya"
(O father Ganesha, come again early next year).
After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and
camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river
to immerse it.
The whole community comes to worship
Ganesha in beautifully done tents. These also serve
as the venue for free medical checkup, blood donation
camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances,
films, devotional songs, etc. during the days of
the festival. |
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On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate
on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the
morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after
taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of
Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding.
Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the
obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship
Him at home, too. You can get the assistance of a pundit.
Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His
Presence in it.
Do not to look at the moon on that day; remember that
it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really
means avoid the company of all those who have no faith
in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from
this very day. Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray
to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain
success in all your undertakings. May the blessings of
Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all the obstacles
that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you
all material prosperity as well as liberation
