Skip to main content

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chatuthi
Ganesh Chaturthi, in Hinduism, 10-day festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. It begins on the fourth day (chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September), the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.
                                    Image result for about ganesh chaturthi
At the start of the festival, idols of Ganesha are placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents. The worship begins with the pranapratishtha, a ritual to invoke life in the idols, followed by shhodashopachara, or the 16 ways of paying tribute. Amid the chanting of Vedichymns from religious texts like the Ganesh Upanishad, the idols are anointed with red sandalwoodpaste and yellow and red flowers. Ganesha is also offered coconut, jaggery, and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings), considered to be Ganesha’s favourite food.
                                      Image result for about ganesh chaturthi
At the conclusion of the festival, the idols are carried to local rivers in huge processions accompanied by drumbeats, devotional singing, and dancing. There they are immersed, a ritual symbolizing Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailas—the abode of his parents, Shiva and Parvati.
Ganesh Chaturthi assumed the nature of a gala public celebration when the Maratha ruler Shivaji (c.1630–80) used it to encourage nationalist sentiment among his subjects, who were fighting the Mughals. In 1893, when the British banned political assemblies, the festival was revived by the Indian nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Today the festival is celebrated in Hindu communitiesworldwide and is particularly popular in Maharashtra and parts of western India.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami Janmashtami is a popular festival of the Hindus that revolves around the celebration of the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. This festival usually falls in the month of August or September.  In 2018, it is going to be celebrated on Sunday , 2 September. About Lord Krishna and Janmashtami History Krishna is considered to be one of the most powerful incarnations of Lord Vishnu, who was born into this world to help people get rid of evil demons. Janmashtami’s history dates back to several thousands of years when Lord Krishna was born to Devaki and Vasudevaa, who were imprisoned by his maternal uncle Kansa, the king of Mathura. Lord Krishna's Childhood Days There are various stories of Lord Krishna, which speak about his feats during his childhood. According to one such story, Krishna had killed lady demon, Putna and various other demons like Trunavarta, Aristhasur, and Keshi. He’s also famous for killing Kaliya Nag in order to remove poison fr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Guru Nanak Jayanti

Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Jayanti Sikh festival falls in the month of Kartik (October/November). Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak's Birthday and the other Gurpurbs with an Akhand Path, a reading of the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, continuously from beginning to end. This is done by a team of Sikh men and women, each reading for 2-3 hours over 48 hours, beginning two days before and ending early on the morning of the birthday. On the penultimate day of Guru Nanak Jayanti, a procession takes place in the morning, which is more commonly known as the 'Prabhat pheri'. Five armed guards, who represent the Panj Pyares, head the procession carrying Nishan Sahibs (the Sikh flag). Local bands playing religious music form a special part of the procession. Sikhs also visit gurdwaras where special programs are arranged and kirtans (religious songs) are sung. Houses and gurdwaras are lit up to add to the festivities. Guru Nanak Dev's life served as a beacon light...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja A prominent festival for the North Indian state of Bihar and certain regions of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal, Chhath Puja rituals start on the sixth day of Hindu calendar month, Kartika. Starting tomorrow, October 24 , Chhath Puja festivities span across four days and are observed to worship the Sun god and seek his blessings for the overall prosperity of the family. The fervour around the puja is marked by offering prayers to the Sun god, fasting and taking dips into the holy waters of Ganga (however, with time people have evolved and become less rigid about this rule). The grandest festival for those who observe it, Chhath Puja is also a stringent one that encourages frugality and abstinence from food and water. Here's everything you need to know about the legend, significance and rituals around Chhath Puja. Legend: While the exact origins of Chhath Puja remain undefined and ambiguous, some believe it dates all the way back to Hindu epics, Ramaya...
Post a Comment
Read more