Preparations for celebrating Vinayaka Chaturthi that falls on August 23 this year are in full swing. With obeisance, devotees celebrate it. The Chaturthi is birthday of Lord Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati.
Vinayaka Chaturthi that is also called Ganesh Chaturthi is widely celebrated in India. Vinayak Chatuthi’s entire celebration goes on for days. The Chaturthi is observed on the fourth day during the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada (August-September) month.
Though it is celebrated all over India, its festivities are at most elaborate in Maharashtra, and the other parts of Western India. This year Ganesh Chaturthi festival will be celebrated August 23.
According to Hindu Mythology, Ganesh Chaturthi is an auspicious occasion to offer prayer to Lord Ganesh Who removes all obstacles and troubles of devotees.
Many people visit Lord Ganesh temple while numerous observe Ganesha Chaturthi poojas at home.
Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi goes on for 10 days in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, while, in other states, it is celebrated for one day on the Vinayak Chaturthi day. The best celebration is associated with Ganesh Chaturthi across 10 days.
Generally, devotees do Lord Ganesh puja during noon on the Chaturthi day when all the members of your family are present.
One needs a clay image or murti of Lord Ganesha, red and yellow flowers, druva grass blades, a coconut, sweets (preferably Modak), sandalwood paste and incense sticks, incense and agarbathis and panchamrit.
Devotees install a clay image of Lord Ganesha in a raised platform and pray to Lord Ganesh, reciting mantras or bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Offering the puja, devotees do pran-prathista that is Ganesha comes into the image.
Devotees recite the mantra for pran pratistha is
“Ganananh tva ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam – upamashravastamam |
jyeshhtharajam brahmanan.h brahmanaspata A nah shrivnvannutibhih sida sadanam.”
(We invoke You, O Ganapati of the ganas, Who are Brahmana-spati of the brahmas the wisest among the wise, Who abound in treasure beyond all measure, the most brilliant one. Do listen to our prayers, come with your blessings and assurances of protection into our home, and be seated.)
Beginning with the establishment of idol on a higher platform and making it clean with Panchamrit, the devotees performs ritual of the pran-prathishta pooja. They invoke the holy presence of Lord Ganesha into the idol followed by the worship with sixteen modes of showing honor, known as “Shhodashopachara.”
Devotees perform aarti and light the lamps and bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Then they offer to Lord Ganesh, 21 modakas, 21 blades of druva grass, offer red and yellow flowers, and apply a tilak using Sandalwood paste and Kumkum. Devotees break the coconut or just keep it along with the idol. They offer their best possible prasada to the Ganesh. The statues are worshiped with all the family members and friends seek his blessings.
Some of the devotees of Ganesha observe a whole day fast on this day. They also sing songs and bhajans of Lord Ganesh. They also recite aarati.
Devotees offer a modak, other sweets and milk to idols of Lord Ganeshji at home and in temples. On this occasion, a variety of sweets like Besan Ke Ladoo, Motichoor Ke Ladoo, Kaju Ke Barfi, Puliyodarai,Karanji, Puran Poli Modak, Rawa Ladoo are made.
Meanwhile, the administration has decided to make elaborate security arrangements during the festival.
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