Why Is Ganesh Charthurthi Celebrated?

Finally, after the long wait from a covid pandemic, we get to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at full blast. For straight 2 years, we couldn’t celebrate it in fear of covid. 

But at last, the day has come when all the people are united again worshipping, dancing, cooking, and buying fancy clothes to welcome the Ganesh festival.  This festival is celebrated all across people. It is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra, Telangana, Mumbai etc.

India is a place where no matter what religion they belong to they celebrate the festivals as one and united. Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival. 

They bring a statue of Lord Ganesh depending upon how many days they will keep the statue. The bigger the days bigger will be the statue. It is said that some people celebrate for 21 days and that statue will be as big as a five to six-floor building or I think bigger than that.

The duration of keeping Lord Ganesh's idols at home for worshipping completely depends upon the devotees. There are plenty of stories and beliefs behind the celebration of this festival. 

Know about some of them and the auspicious timings of Ganesh Sthapna and Visarjan here.

Why Is This Festival Celebrated?

Lord Ganesh was born on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the Bhadrapada month, which falls on 31 August this year as per the Gregorian calendar. 

The famous story of Lord Ganesh’s birth which finds its mention in some historical scriptures, says that Goddess Parvati made Lord Ganesh with the sandalwood paste that she used for bathing. She asked him to guard the entrance until she comes after bathing.

While performing his duty, Lord Shiva came and tried to meet his wife. On being denied by Lord Ganesh to meet Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva got furious and beheaded Lord Ganesh’s head from his body. 

Poor Ganesh was only doing his job. On seeing this Goddess Parvati was enraged in anger and said that she will destroy everything if she doesn’t get her son back.

Seeing the situation worsen lord Shiva asked to bring the head of a baby animal whose mother was facing the other way from her child. 

Fulfilling this condition, a baby elephant’s head was chosen for the task, after which Lord Shiva attached the elephant head to Lord Ganesh’s body. Since then, the day is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi.

Who Brought This Festival To Public Eyes?

The festival was reincarnated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak to unite the people and bridge the gap of casteism among them. 

He set up the first and oldest Mandal, Kesha Keshavi Naik Chawl Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal at Girgaum in 1893. 

To install the spirit of nationalism, he also began the tradition of installing Lord Ganesh Idol during the festival. People believe that he was the first person to install a large clay idol of Lord Ganesh

According to the Hindu calendar, one should avoid moon sighting on 30 August from 3:33 pm to 8:40 pm and between 9:29 am to 9:10 pm on 31 August. Ganesh Chaturthi will begin On 31^st August.

Famous Sweet Of This Festival

Modak is lord Ganesh’s favourite mithai.  This is why you will find sweet shops across the country filled with trays of modak. some people also make modak at home with their family. 

Modak is prepared with rice flour, jaggery and coconut. But you will find a different unique type of modak with classic taste and recipe. 

There are chocolate modak, Kesar, fruit and nut modak and then if you are a health caution person you might like flaxseed modak or gluten-free modak. But I guarantee you that you might love mawa modak it’s my top priority modak.

Written By: Nylisha Cruz