Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi? What are its importance, the dates, and muhurta, all this information is covered in this blog?
This year Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 10th September 2021. Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. Every year Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the Shukla Chaturthi of the Bhadrapada lunar month that falls between August and September in the modern English calendar. This is one of the greatest festivals of India, celebrated for 11 days full of euphoria. The big idols of Lord Ganesha were installed in public places so that everybody can worship and get the blessings of Lord Ganesha to have good luck and prosperity in life. For the present time, we should follow Covid protocols with eco-friendly bio-degradable idols for celebration.
Ganapati or Ganesha or Vinayaka_ The Start of Auspiciousness
Ganesha or Ganapati is a very popular God, who is famous in every house of India. Lord Ganesha is worshipped before the start of any auspicious work. He like any other God in Hindu Religion is having a lot of other famous names. However, he is famous for the name Ganapati or Vinayaka, or Vighnaharta.
Ganapati -GANA means a group of Ashtavasus (as mentioned by Maharshi Panini) and PATI means the protector or who takes care.
Ganapati means the Lord of the group of Ashtavasus. Where the Ashtavasus means the Directions. He is the lord of all directions, he controls the movement of each and everything happening in these directions. That’s why he is the first God to be worshipped before starting any auspicious work so that it will be complete without any hindrance
Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest and most popular festivals in India. This festival is very big and celebrated throughout India, especially in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In this festival where people irrespective of caste, religion meet and celebrate it in a very magnificent manner. People install and worship Lord Ganesha in every home.
The birth of Ganesha-the anger of Lord Shiva
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days from Shukla Chaturthi tithi of Bhadra month of the Hindu calendar to Ananta Chaturdashi. As per the Purana, he was incarnated from the turmeric paste that goddess Parvati, during her bath has given the shape of a child. She is then given the life to that child. The child was very beautiful and named Ganesha. Then Goddess Parvati told Ganesha to secure the house that nobody will enter it. Lord Ganesha obeyed and stood near to the door. After some time Lord Shiva came to meet his wife Goddess Parvati. But Ganesha stopped him to meet Goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva got infuriated by this behavior of Ganesha and waged a war on him. The war concluded with the decapitation of Ganesha Head. To learn about more of this please follow the link
The birth of Ganesha-the love of Maa Parvati
On listening to the scream of Ganesha, Goddess Parvati started running outside to see the lifeless body and decapitated head of Ganesha. Then she saw Lord Shiva was holding his Trishul with which he has decapitated Ganesha. On seeing this she got very angry and decided to do Pralaya. On seeing this all other Gods got feared and want to stop the Pralaya. This pralaya will end everything. To stop Goddess Parvati from doing so, all Gods went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu suggested that to pacify the anger of Goddess Parvati, the Ganesha to be reborn.
The birth of Ganesha-the New Avatar– The reason for Why do we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi
He suggested getting the head of someone who was sleeping with their head pointing towards the north. The Gods only got the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy’s torso and Ganesha was born!
On seeing this immense love of a mother towards his son, for which she can even fight with her husband. The Tridevs, Lord Brahma, Vishu, and Shiva gave a boon to Ganesha to be the first worshipped before the worship of any other God. Since the boy has got the head of an elephant, the Gajraj got the name Gajanan. Like that he got famous with many other names as Ganapati, Ganesh, Gajmukh, Vighnaharta, Vinayak, Gowrinandan, etc. So, I think now it is clear why do we celebrate
That is why before the commencement of any puja, Lord Ganesha is the first one to be worshipped.
Ganesh Chaturthi, its role in the unification of India
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is the most famous in Maharashtra. Actually, it got famous in Maharashtra by Peshwas during the time of Shivaji Maharaj. Kasba Ganapati is very famous which was indicted by Shivaji’s mother Jijabai.
During the days of freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Indian freedom fighter changed the way the Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated. Earlier, Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated only inside homes with only family members. However, Bal Gangadhar Tilak has brought together people from all castes, religions and united them. The Ganesh Chaturthi has become a symbol of unity for the Indian society which was infected with the differences of castes and religions. This paved the path for the unity of Indians and ultimately the freedom struggle. It has broken the barrier between the people and made the freedom struggle into a stronger revolution. The Ganesh Chaturthi has a big contribution to the freedom struggle.
Ganesh Chaturthi : Shubh Muhurt
This year, the most auspicious time for the Ganesh puja is from 11:03 am till 1:33 pm on September 10. The Chaturthi Tithi begins at 12:18 am on September 10 and ends at 09:57 pm on September 10. If we do puja in these timings then we can get very good to excellent results.
Ganesh Chaturthi in today’s time
In today’s time, Ganesh Chaturthi has become so grand and is celebrated in a very big way. It is not limited to homes, it is celebrated in a very grand manner. However, for the past two years due to CoVid, we should celebrate this festival so that everybody will be safe. Following CoVid protocols like using a mask, washing hands, and more importantly not going in a crowd or part of it. We can really enjoy the Vighnaharta Vinayaka birthday with the protection of others by following CoVid protocols.
By this blog, I want to request that the real flavor of Ganesh Chaturthi is in the unity and happiness of people. Caring, affection, love, charity, and help are the elements of Ganesh Chaturthi. We should take care of others by playing only soft bhajans of Lord Ganesha instead of playing loud DJs which is painful for elders and kids.
Also, We should encourage eco-friendly Ganesh idols instead of idols with a lot of non-bio-degradable elements.
I hope you guys like this blog. If you want to suggest or add something so please add it in the comment section below.
#HappyGaneshChaturthi #2021 #CoVid #SocialDistyancing
