Ganesh Chaturthi 2023 | Significance | Legend | Celebration

What is the significance of Ganesh Chaturthi in Indian culture?

By Intimate Viewpoint

Ganesh Chaturthi is the major festival of Maharashtra, apart from this, it is also celebrated with great pomp in other states of India. It is marked as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. It is observed in the month of August-September in the Grigorian calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as "Vinayak Chaturthi".

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 Indian Culture: Indian Festival, (Local, Religious & National)

Significance and celebrations 

According to the Hindu scripture, Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He is known as "Vighnaharta" (Destroyer of Obstacles). That is why, worship of Lord Ganesha has been given the first place in the scriptures.

Whenever worship is done for an auspicious work, Lord Ganesha worships first. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated privately at home and publicly in Mandaps (temporary stages).

Clay Idols of Ganesha are placed at homes and mandaps. The places are decorated with lights and flowers. Giant PandaL is made everywhere. Bhajans and Aartis are sung everywhere.

This festival is observed for forty days. Fairs are also organized in many places. The idol of Lord Ganesha is immersed in a pond or river on the 10th Day.

Thus Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated.

The Legend

It is said that Goddess Parvati didn't give him birth. She created an Idol of a little boy with the "Ubtan", a paste that she used to apply on her body while bathing. The idol that she had created appeared beautiful and charming, and her Motherhood awakened. She decided to make the idol alive and did so. She started calling him "Ganesha".  

As Ganesha was created from the Ubtan of Goddess Parvati's body, he was more intelligent and powerful.

Ganesha liked "Modak" a kind of sweet made with milk and Laddu to eat very much. Therefore, Modak and laddu are offered surely to Ganesha in worship.

Lord Ganesha did not have the head of an elephant from his birth. There is also a legend behind it.

It is said, that one day when Goddess Parvati was going to take a bath, she asked Ganesha to watch the gate so that no one could enter inside. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva appeared and asked to enter but Ganesha refused. Lord Shiva gave his introduction yet Ganesha refused to let him enter. Lord Shiva got angry and cut off his head with his "Trishul".

Goddess Parvati rushed to the incident started crying and sought her son to revive her. Lord Shiva said that it was impossible. Goddess said that if her son is not alive then she too will not be alive. Then Lord Shiva asked his men to bring the head of a child whose mother was sleeping with her back turned to her child. His men came back with the head of a baby elephant. Lord Shiva fixed the head to the body of Ganesha and made him alive.

Thus he becomes a Lord with elephant-headed.