Ganesha Chaturthi 2023, History, Celebration

Ganesha Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesh, the god of wisdom, prosperity, and knowledge. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much enthusiasm all over India. It is of supreme importance in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Goa. People prepare for these festivals before the actual day. He is honoured at the start of the ceremony as he’s considered the God of beginnings. He’s broadly and dearly referred to as Ganapati or Vinayaka.

Ganesh Chaturthi history

Legend tells the tale of Goddess Parvati, who prepared baby Ganesha using sandalwood paste and asked him to guard the way in while she took a bath. When Lord Shiva was vital to enter, Ganesha would not even say so to him to pass through. Lord Shiva, furious at this, severed the child’s head. When Goddess Parvati apprehends what has taken place, she is overwhelmed and heartbroken. This is when Lord Shiva promised that he would bring baby Ganesha back to life. He went on to educate his followers (ganas) to search for the head of the first living creature they could come across to replace Ganesha’s body. However, the Ganas could only find a baby elephant’s head. That is how Lord Ganesha came back to life with the head of an elephant. Lord Shiva named him the leader of the ganas, or Ganapati.

Celebrations

People bring an idol of Lord Ganesha to their homes and worship it all the way through the festival. The idol is adorned with flowers and garlands before it is finally engrossed on the day of Visarjan, marking the end of the 10-day celebration.