The ten days festival of Ganesh Chaturthi marks the arrival of Ganpathi in almost every Indian house-holds. This year, the celebration will be commencing on 10^th September and will be continued till Anant Chaturdashi. It is celebrated in all states in India in different ways. In Hindu scriptures, Ganesh is a God of wisdom and his birth anniversary in the month of Bhadrapada brings wisdom, prosperity, and happiness to His devotees. This Chaturthi is also called ‘Kalank’ Chaturthi or ‘Dhela’ Chaturthi in some places.

It is believed that people should not see the moon on this day or he will be cursed.

How it is celebrated

People have different ways of celebrating this festival. On the day, the devotees clean the place where the idol of Ganesha is to be kept, decorate the place, lay a red cloth on chowki, put Ganesha on it. In front of the idol, a pot full of water or Kalash is kept. Few leaves of mango tree and coconut are also kept on top of it.

Devotees offer delicious Bhog to Ganesha in which ‘Modak’ is said to be the favorite to Ganesha. They pray for ten days followed by singing hymns, dancing, worshipping, and performing aarti every day. Some people observe fasting on the day. The festival culminates in to ‘Visarjan’ where the idol is taken outside to any river, sea, or pond and immersed into water. The devotees pray to God Ganesha to come next year and shower all blessings upon them.

The legend behind the birth of Ganesha

According to the most prevalent legends of Ganesh’s birth, once Shiva went out to visit the area in Kailash, in the meantime, Goddess Parvathi decided to take bath and asked Ganesha to guard the door.

While she was having a bath, Shiva came back and entered inside, Ganesha stopped Him and did not let Him in. At this, Shiva got furious and cut Ganesh’s head. When Parvathi came out and saw her son died, she went into extreme agony. To make her happy, Shiva cut an elephant’s head, put it on Ganesh’s body, and enlivened him.

Celebration during Pandemic times

Every year the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and festivity but this year, in light of the cruel effect of the pandemic, the government in some states have put restriction upon the mass gatherings and processions which will certainly dwindle the joy and enthusiasm of devotees.

In Karnataka, the government has allowed the public celebration only for five days, and only 20 people will be allowed for idol immersion or any gathering. People are expected to follow all Covid 19 protocols and after 9 PM no celebration is allowed.

In Maharashtra, the government has urged the public to celebrate the festival with simplicity. The size of the idol should be 2 feet for home and 4 feet for public pooja. The government stressed that No procession will be allowed on the first day and the day of immersion of the idol, and people need to use artificial ponds for immersion of the iodol prepared by the local authority.