Ganesh Chaturthi, which falls on September 10, is the first Hindu festival of the year. According to the Hindu calendar, the 10-day celebration is held in the Bhadra month. Vinayaka Chaturti is another name for it. It is commemorated by Hindus as Lord Ganesh’s descent from Kailash Parvat with his mother Parvati. This event is marked by the installation of clay Ganesha statues by devotees. Making pandals or stages in private homes or public locations is one way to do this.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp and show throughout India, although it is most evident in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. People in Maharashtra build magnificent pandals, and devotees come from all around the city to seek Lord Ganesha’s blessings.
History of Ganesh Chaturthi
Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian freedom warrior, opted to celebrate Ganpati puja on a grand scale by erecting pandals and holding massive public gatherings during the British era. Large Hindu gatherings were prohibited by the authorities at the time. It was also a means to protest and bring the entire community together through a large event such as Ganesh Chaturthi. The idea behind this project was to use festivals as public forums to raise awareness and educate people about the civil rights fight (Chandra, 1976). Tilak was born in Maharashtra and is reported to have selected the Ganesh Festival since it was a widely observed but privately observed festival. He’s also known as the Obstacle Remover and the Brave.
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
According to legend, Goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesha by gathering her bodily filth and giving it a human form. She made him to keep her safe. Lord Shiva was completely unaware of Ganesha’s existence until he went to see his wife Parvati and was stopped by Ganesha, who was guarding her. Lord Shiva was so enraged that he hacked off Ganesha’s head in retaliation for being stopped by someone he didn’t know on his way to meet his bride. When Parvati saw her son lying lifeless on the floor, she lost her calm and began raging angrily. Lord Shiva was begged by all the other gods and goddesses to appease her. Lord Shiva then resurrected Ganesha by attaching an elephant’s head to his body.
Other deities allegedly asked Shiva and Parvati to create a God who could defend them from demons, according to another legend. Ganesha is also known as Viganharta because of this.
Lord Ganesha has 108 names, and various hymns exist that include all of them, which devotees sing while praying to him. He is said to be able to remove all of humanity’s troubles and grant all of their wishes. Tushti, Pushti, Shree, Riddhi, and Siddhi were Ganesha’s five brides. Subh and Labh are his two sons.
Famous Temples of Lord Ganesha
There are many well-known Lord Ganehsa temples throughout India; some of the most well-known are:
1) Siddhivinayak Temple – Mumbai
The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir is India’s most famous Lord Shri Ganesh temple and one of Maharashtra’s most prominent Ganapati temples. Siddhivinayak Temple is a must-see temple during Ganesh Chaturthi and one of India’s wealthiest temple trusts.
2) Dagdusheth Ganpati – Pune
The Shreemant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple is Maharashtra’s most prominent Ganesha temple and a notable tourist destination in Pune. The Dagdusheth Ganpati trust is one of Maharashtra’s wealthiest and is known throughout the country for its Golden idol.
3) Ganpatipule Temple – Ratnagiri
All Hindu Gods are said to face east, but the idol in Ganpatipule is said to face west, guarding the west. This Ganpati statue is over 400 years old. The idol is said to have evolved spontaneously. From February until November, the temple receives the first rays of sunlight. Most of the locals use this as a beach getaway because it is located on the Konkan coast.
4) Ucchi Pillayar Temple – Trichy
The Ucchi Pillayar Temple in Trichy is located at the top of Rockfort. The Pallavas carved this temple out of rock, and it boasts incredible rock architecture. During the reign of the Vijayanagara dynasty, the structure was completed by Madurai’s Nayak kings. The views of Trichy and the Kaveri River are spectacular from here. Ganesha is said to have disguised himself as a shepherd kid and persuaded Vibhisan to keep the Vishnu image, and an enraged Vibhisan unwittingly struck the Lord. As a result, that mark can also be found on the idol’s head.
5) Dodda Ganapathi – Bengaluru
On the Bull Temple Road in Basavanagudi, Bangalore, is the famed Dodda Ganesha Temple. The 18-foot-tall and 16-foot-wide idol of Dodda Ganapathi Temple is one of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s most popular attractions.
6) Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple – Chittoor
The Cholas built this Ganesh temple in the 11th century, and it boasts a historic structure and artistic embellishments. The white, yellow, and red colours on the idol’s head are thought to have arisen from a dip in the holy water. The annual celebration Brahmotsavam coincides with Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival will last 21 days. During this occasion, grand processions are held.
7) Ashtavinayak – Pune
The Ashtavinayaka yatra visits the eight old holy Ganesha temples in Maharashtra’s Pune district. Moreshwar Temple, Siddhivinayak Temple, Ballaleshwar Temple, Varadavinayak Temple, Chintamani Temple, Girijatmaj Temple, Vighnahar Temple, and Mahaganapati Temple are the Ashtavinayak’s eight temples and idols.
A set of eight Lord Ganesha temples near Pune, this pilgrimage prescribes a sequence of worship which must be completed at one go. Halts are allowed, of course. However the devotee must not return home. And the path must end where it began – at the Moregaon Ganesh Temple.
8) Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple – Jaipur
The Moti Dungri temple, which dates back to 1761, is more over 250 years old. This is one of Jaipur’s historic temples, surrounded by forts and hills. The idol is thought to be 500 years old. The Nagara style is a limestone and marble creation that is reminiscent of Scottish architecture. On Mahashivratri, devotees also worship the Shiva lingam in the temple. It is a well-known Ganesh temple in Rajasthan, located around 6 kilometres from the city of Jaipur.
9) Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple – Kanipakam
This is a well-known Lord Ganesha temple in Chennai, located near Besant Nagar. The idol of Vinayakar with Siddhi may be seen here, which is dedicated to the Hindu elephant God Vinayaka. There is also a little idol that was initially revered. Every year during Ganesh Chaturthi, a lavish music concert draws pilgrims and music enthusiasts from all around India. There is also an auditorium at the temple where cultural activities are held.
10) Ranthambore Ganesh Temple – Rajasthan
The Ranthambore Ganesh Temple is India’s oldest Ganesh temple. Lord Krishna and his bride Rukmini are said to have sought blessings from this temple at their wedding. Locals and visitors alike adore the Ranthambore Fort, which is located in the forests and houses the 1000-year-old Ranthambore Fort. Every year, this temple gets wedding invitations and presents from people who want to seek Ganesha’s blessings before embarking on a new adventure. This is the Hindu god Pratham Ganesha, also known as the Trinetra. During a period of strife in the 13th century, the monarch built this temple, which brought peace and prosperity to the region.
