August 2025

Ganesh Chaturthi

Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.

August 2025

Significance

Honors Ganesha as the god of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings.

The Story Behind

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity who is revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the god of intellect and wisdom. According to mythology, Goddess Parvati created Ganesha from sandalwood paste and breathed life into him to guard her while she bathed. When Lord Shiva returned and was stopped by Ganesha, an enraged Shiva beheaded him. To console the grieving Parvati, Shiva replaced Ganesha's head with that of an elephant and brought him back to life, declaring him the leader of all ganas (divine beings) and the first deity to be worshipped in any ritual. Ganesha's large elephant head symbolizes wisdom, his big ears represent the importance of listening, his small eyes signify concentration, and his large belly shows the ability to digest all good and bad in life. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, especially in Maharashtra, with the installation of Ganesha idols in homes and public pandals.

Traditional Rituals & Observances

Ganesha Sthapana (Installation)

On the first day, a clay idol of Ganesha is brought home or installed in a pandal with Vedic rituals. The idol is invoked with mantras, and Ganesha is invited to reside in the idol for the duration of the festival.

Daily Puja

For 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or 11 days, devotees perform daily puja offering flowers, durva grass, modaks, and prayers. The puja includes 16 steps (Shodashopachara) of worship, aarti, and bhajans.

Modak Offering

Modak, a sweet dumpling, is Ganesha's favorite food. Devotees prepare 21 or 108 modaks and offer them to Ganesha. It is believed that offering modaks with devotion fulfills wishes and brings prosperity.

Visarjan (Immersion)

On the final day, the idol is taken in a grand procession with music and dancing to a water body for immersion. This ritual symbolizes Ganesha returning to his celestial abode, taking away all obstacles and negativity.