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Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
Lord Ganesh, the patron deity is the God of wisdom. Come August, preparations to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi - the auspicious day when Lord Ganesh was born - begin with great enthusiasm all over the state. The 11-day festival begins with the installation of beautifully sculpted Ganesha idols in homes and mandaps (large tents), colourfully decorated, depicting religious themes or current events. The Ganesh idols are worshipped with families and friends. Many cultural events are organised and people participate in them with keen interest. After ten exciting days comes the time to bid farewell to the beloved God.
Ganesha is
India's cutest god. He has the head of an elephant on which is perched a
dainty tiara, four podgy hands joined to a sizeable belly with each hand
holding its own symbolic object. One has a trishul, or a trident, the
second, an ankush, or goad made from his very own broken tooth, the third
hand elegantly holds a lotus and the fourth a rosary (which is sometimes
replaced by modaks his favourite sweet). Ganesha is famous not only for
being a trickster and for his sense of humour, but equally for his wisdom.
He is the son of Shiva (Destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of
Creator-Preserver-Destroyer) and Parvati (Shiva's consort).
There is a curiously interesting tale about the birth of Ganesha. It is
believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure
from some unguent and balm, gave him life and asked him to guard the door
while she bathed. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash
(Shiva's abode), Shiva chose that very moment to drop by to see his better
half, but was abruptly stopped by the man-god Parvati had posted at the
door. Outraged by the cheek of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to
discover that he had killed Parvati's son! For fear of enraging his wife,
Shiva immediately dispatched his ganas (attendants) to get him the head of
the first living creature they could find. Well, the first living creature
happened to be an elephant. As instructed, the head was chopped off and
brought back to Shiva, who placed it on Parvati's son's body, bringing him
back to life. This elephant-headed god was welcomed into the first family of
the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the
chief of the ganas, or the attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost god
of the Hindu pantheon. This brave guardian of the door to Parvati's bath is
beheld today as the most auspicious God of new beginnings. He is worshipped
during every festival and before people undertake a journey or embark upon a
new venture. You will also see him carefully guarding entrances to temples
and homes, peeping out of calendars and happily gracing marriages and other
such occasions.
How Ganesh Chaturthi Festival Celebrated
There is a curiously interesting tale about the birth of Ganesha. It is believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure from some unguent and balm, gave him life and asked him to guard the door while she bathed. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash (Shiva?s abode), Shiva chose that very moment to drop by to see his better half, but was abruptly stopped by the man-god Parvati had posted at the door. Outraged by the cheek of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to discover that he had killed Parvati?s son! For fear of enraging his wife, Shiva immediately dispatched his ganas (attendants) to get him the head of the first living creature they could find. Well, the first living creature happened to be an elephant. As instructed, the head was chopped off and brought back to Shiva, who placed it on Parvati?s son?s body, bringing him back to life. This elephant-headed god was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the chief of the ganas, or the attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost god of the Hindu pantheon. This brave guardian of the door to Parvati?s bath is beheld today as the most auspicious God of new beginnings. He is worshipped during every festival and before people undertake a journey or embark upon a new venture. You will also see him carefully guarding entrances to temples and homes, peeping out of calendars and happily gracing marriages and other such occasions.