Bengaluru: People across the country celebrated the beginning of the 10-day festival, Ganesh Chaturthi on August 31. Devotees from various states are preparing to mark the auspicious occasion with pomp and gaiety.
Devotees all across the world observe and celebrate this occasion with great devotion. In India, states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana are where it is most widely observed.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Ganeshotsav, is a ten-day festival that begins on Chaturthi Tithi and ends on Anantha Chaturdashi. It is celebrated since it is Lord Ganesha’s birthday. It is said that Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathy, was brought back to life with an elephant’s head on this day.
Hindus remember Ganesha and ask for his blessings before beginning any important work because he is revered as the God of wealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdom, and prosperity.
Usually, pandals are set up in public spaces where the Lord’s idols are installed to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. Lights and flower garlands are used as decorations. Every year, devotees observe fasts, prepare a variety of foods, and engage in several rituals as they start the celebration by bringing Lord Ganesha’s idol inside their houses and offices.
On the eleventh day, the idol is carried in a huge procession while people sing and dance in groups before being submerged in the river.
It is believed that the last immersion represents wishing Lord Ganesha farewell as he makes his way to Kailash, where he will reside and take away all of his worshippers’ woes.
Even though a few Hindu organisations demanded to hold Ganesha festival on the Eidgah Maidan in Bengaluru and thus many were slightly tense about the dispute, it didn’t dampen the spirit and joy of the festival in Karnataka. Like the say, Lord Ganesha is true Vignaharta, the God who wards off obstacles.
Image by Faltu Grapher
