All across the country, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great devotion. The murtis of Lord Ganesha are brought home and the festival is celebrated with great traditions and respect. This idol or Murti is worshiped according to the traditions of the family. The worship is done is a special way for one and a half day, 5 days, 7 days or 11 days according to traditions.

This festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in many parts of India including Maharashtra with a lot of enthusiasm. Ganesh Chaturthi was started by a great Maratha ruler, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja with the aim of encouraging nationalism and culture. Lokmanya Tilak, a freedom fighter later revived the festival to defy the British ban on public assembly and to spread the message of the freedom struggle. This festival not only revived patriotism and faith in the country but also united Indian. Political leader used this festival to deliver speeches to inspire people against British rule in India. The popularity of the festival can be gauged from the fact that its preparations begin months in advance.

Special attention is given to decoration with mirrors, flowers, lighting and statues of Ganesha are installed in street corners and in homes. Every day devotees perform poojas or prayer service. There is a competition among artists who make these idols. Each artist aims at making bigger and more magnificent Ganesha idol than the other. The larger ones can be even 10 meters high. After being worshiped for a certain number of days as per traditions, these statues are immersed in the sea. Several processions carrying the statues on decorated floats accompanied by drum beats, devotional songs and dancing converge at the beach where the statues are finally immersed.

Rites And Rituals

Celebrated over a period of 7 to 10 days, Ganesh Chaturthi is regarded as an integral festival in the region of Maharashtra. The entire state is decorated beautifully with lights. The pedestal over which the statue of Ganesha is kept to mark the first day of the festival symbolizes a throne. Then, the idol is dipped in holy water by a priest who performs rituals and pooja. Incense flowers along with modak are then offered to the deity. Modak is a sweet made of coconut milk and rice flower. During rest of the days of the festival, the idol is worshiped with Ganesh stuti and devotional songs in the morning and evening. People also install idols of Ganesh in their houses.

Pooja can be performed either by a priest or simply with family members within the house. Modak is a special sweet dish for Ganesh Chaturthi. Puja is performed each morning and also every evening at dusk when artificial lamps are lighted.

Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal organizes one of the most famous public Ganesh idols in Mumbai. Founded in 1934, this Mandal was earlier known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug. Before being immersed on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, the idol is kept on public display for 11 days. Devotees from all over the city, country and also the world come to Lalbaugcha Raja Mumbai to offer their prayers.

Farewell

After the days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, God is believed to return to his abode. The farewell procession in which Lord Ganesh is carried by devotees witnesses participation of enthusiastic people including singers, dancers, priests, acrobats and onlookers. The idol is then immersed in Arabian Sea only after doing Aarti along with flowers, sweets and coconuts offered to the idol. This ritual of immersing the idol into the sea is known as 'Ganesh Visarjan'. The procession of enthusiastic devotees are seen chanting ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya' (famous slogan praising Lord Ganesha). The Chowpatty Beach where the most famous immersion takes places is located at a distance of 1 km from Marine Drive. The most prominent immersion takes place on, located at a distance of 1 km from Marine Drive. The Grand Visarjan is witnessed by huge crowds assembled there. The procession begins in the morning and is carried throughout the day till night. Public celebrations on this day are known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, during which several community pujas or celebrations are held almost everywhere in the city.

Blessings

In India, Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated with great zeal and joy. Ganesha idols are worshipped by people with great devotion. This auspicious day is considered to be the day when Lord Ganesh comes to earth to bless his devotees.