Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God is considered an embodiment of wisdom, eternal bliss and good fortune. He is the Lord who removes all obstacles in the spiritual path and brings worldly success and is the endower of joy, knowledge, wisdom and of wealth. He symbolizes the beginning of all things in creation and the awakening of higher intelligence within the individual; his grace is essential to begin any new endeavor. He is worshiped at the beginning of any prayer or religious festival and any new mission in life. Meetings, gatherings, weddings, functions and celebrations begin with a prayer of lord Ganesha and no new venture-be it a new company, a new house, a new shop is inaugurated without reciting a 'mantra' of lord Ganesha. He is a god of success, prosperity and happiness.
Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva
Ganesha has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is a composite of four animals, with the head of an elephant, the body of a man, a snake binds his belly and he rides on a mouse. Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents OM. He is a popular figure in Indian art. Unlike some deities, representations of Ganesha show wide variation with distinct patterns changing over time.
Ganesha is remembered on chaturthi, the 4th day of every month of the Hindu calendar, but most of all on Ganesh Chaturthi which is observed on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada throughout India. Ganesh puja is performed at all temples and prayer rooms. Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets offered to lord Ganesha are important aspects of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. Clay idols are prepared months before the actual celebration. People buy these idols from the markets on the night before the festival day.
Ganesh Utsav is earmarked by the elaborate decorations. People decorate their entrances with fresh marigold flowers alternated with mango leaves. Fresh and fragrant flower garlands are used to adorn the shrine. They decorate their Ganesha with typical colorful arrangement of myriad flowers. The flooring of the entrance is decorated with Rangoli and oil lamps are lit. Ganesha is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet core. Varieties of sweets and savories are prepared for this occasion. People offer prasad of modaks or peras (a type of sweetmeat), coconut, hibiscus or any other red flower, sheaves of grass, vermilion, turmeric powder and rice.
Special prasad and food are prepared to mark the first day of the puja. Aarti (a ritualistic puja with hymns) is performed twice a day - in the morning and in the evening in community pandals. Most people of the community attend the evening aarti. Ten days from the festival crowds would gather again, for the immersion of the clay Ganeshas, the Visarjan festival. The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of
Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year). In the evening as the sun sets on, thousands of clay images of Ganesha are taken in procession with chanting, music and dancing to be immersed in the rivers, tributaries and oceans. Ganesha has crisscrossed faiths in India to become the icon of protection, of good luck and prosperity.
Ganesh Chaturthi date falls on 1 september 2011
