Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: The Festival for New Beginnings

ganpati
Ganesha is a compound word ‘Gana’ connotes group, while ‘isha’ means Shri or master.
Shri Ganesh is worshipped across India as the God of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles. Besides India, He is also revered in a few other countries, such as Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan, Tibet, and Cambodia.
The elephant-headed god bestows knowledge, good health, and prosperity. Shri Ganesha has a special place in the hearts of devotees, and daily prayers are made to him. He gives freedom from misfortune, and this is one of the primary reasons why he is worshipped before any other deity.
Ganesha, though obese, signifies inner beauty and spiritual ascension. It is through the worship of Shri Ganesha that we are able to attain material opulence, overcome hurdles, and realise the real purpose of our existence.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?

According to the Hindu calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in the month of Bhadra.
Besides His birthday, this 10-day to 12-day festival marks the rejuvenation of our dormant spiritual instincts. Devotees willingly dedicate themselves to the lord’s service and prayers. The celebration takes place in August and September, according to the English calendar.
In 2023, Ganesh Chaturthi begins on September 19th.
The festival's last day is followed by the immersion of Shri Ganesha’s idol. Famously called the Anant Chaturdashi, it falls on September 28th this year.
The immersion of His idol in the waters signifies the dissolution of obstructions and egos. Anant Chaturdashi thus not only marks the end of the festival but also symbolises the culmination of spiritual perfection.
Ganesh Chaturthi Tithi will begin at 12:39 PM on 18th September 2023
Chaturthi Tithi will end at 01:43 PM on 19th September 2023
Ganesh Pooja Muhurat on 19th September 2023 11:01 AM to 1:28 PM
Anant Chaturdashi, Visarjan date is on 28th September

The Birth of Shri Ganesha

Shri Ganesh is the second child of Devi Parvati and Shri Shiva.
According to popular folklore, one day, while taking a bath, Devi Parvati created the figure of a child from the shavings of the ubtan that she scrubbed off her body. The boy was born in the absence of Bhagwan Shiva.
She breathed life into the body through her pranic shakti, and a charming boy was born of it.
Devi Parvati then instructed the boy to guard the entrance of the house while she took her bath. After some time, Bhagwan Shiva returned and wanted to enter the house. Not knowing who he was, the boy denied him entry because his mother had instructed him to do so.
This displeased the almighty Shiva. He, in his indignance, severed the head of the boy with his trident.
Upon learning what had happened, Devi Parvati was distraught and demanded that Bhagwan Shiva bring her child back to life.
After pacifying Devi Parvati, Shri Shiva ordered his assistants to bring the head of the first child whose mother was sleeping with her back to him. His followers searched far and wide, but none were able to find a baby who was not sleeping in the arms of his mother.
They were on the verge of giving up when they came across a mother elephant who was sleeping slightly away from her little one. They severed the baby elephant’s head and gave it to Shri Shiva on the Kailash Parvat.
Shri Shiva then plonked this head on the body, bringing the boy back to life. The half-elephant half-human boy was then named Ganesha.
The other lesser-known story of Shri Ganesh’s birth is: All the Gods asked Shri Shiva and Devi Parvati to create someone who would be able to remove all the obstacles from their path while defeating the demons. According to their request, Shri Shiva created Ganpati.

Rituals to Follow During Ganesh Chaturthi

Every year, Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, is observed for 10 - 11 days. But in certain states, like Maharashtra, the celebrations can last for 1.5, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 days.
Before bringing the lord home, people clean their houses and decorate the doorway with fresh bouquets of flowers.
People also create a separate space where Shri Ganesh will reside for his stay in their home. They then decorate this place with flowers, lights, and other sacred materials.
Shri Ganesh is then brought home during an auspicious time on Chaturthi. Usually, devotees bring him home on a choki, covering the idol with a new cloth.
Before bringing Him inside, his face is unveiled. Rice, haldi, kumkum, abhil, and flowers are showered on Him. He is then welcomed inside with a tikka and then placed in the space, or sthan, decorated specially for him.

The Entire Festival of Ganesha Chaturthi Is Divided Into Four Parts

The puja done throughout the festival is done in four parts. Each part has its own particular significance and holds a profound spiritual meaning.
1. Pran Pratishtha
Pran Pratishtha is the first and most important ritual. The puja starts with the Pran Pratishtha. The ritual is performed to bring the idol to life and invite the god to stay in the home.
It is believed that when Pran Pratishtha has been done for an idol, devotees start treating Him like a living being.
2. Shodashopachara Puja
Shodashopachara is a sixteen-step puja that involves inviting the god, offering Him a place in the home, bathing the idol, offering clothes, janaue (sacred thread), applying kumkum, chandan, akshat, perfume, offering flowers, and doorva.
Then the incense and diya are lit. The devotees sing the aarti and bhajans to please the lord.
After chanting the mantras and hymns, food, or bhog, is offered, which primarily includes fruits, sweets, modak, dry fruits, betel leaves, and panchamrit.
The entire process of Shodashopachara ends with the devotees bowing their heads to the deity to seek His blessings.
The devotee performs this puja daily during the ten-day period of Ganesh Chaturthi until the day he immerses the idol of Shri Ganesha.
Mantra recitation is also of great significance these days. After completing the daily puja, devotees can recite this mantra 108 times -
Om Gan Ganpataye Namo Namah
ॐ गन गणपतए नमो नमः
3. Uttar Puja
Uttar puja is a puja that is performed before taking the idol for immersion.
This puja involves applying kum-kum and chandan to the idol. Along with the kumkum and chandan, devotees offer flowers, doorva, and bhog.
After this, dhoop and diya are placed in front of the idol. Devotees then chant the mantras and sing the aarti before Shri Ganesha.
Devotees then bow their heads and seek the blessings of the Shri Ganesha.
After the completion of the Uttar puja, everyone showers akshat on the Lord. The head of the family or the person in charge of conducting the puja then slightly moves the idol with his right hand.
5 Most Powerful Sri Ganapati Mantras to Chant This Ganesh Chaturthi.
4. Visarjan
Immersion is the last part of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It marks the end of the stay of Shri Ganesha in his devotee’s home.
Visarjan, done on the last day, is popularly known as Anant Chaturdashi. The devotees take the idol for visarjan after the completion of the Uttar puja.
On reaching the spot of immersion, devotees perform the aarti for one last time and seek the blessings of the Shri Ganesha. Besides seeking His blessings, they request their favourite lord to return quickly next year.
The idol of the lord is then handed over for immersion in water. While taking the idol for immersion and during the entire process, devotees continuously chant 'Ganapati Bappa Morya Pudhchya Varshi Laukariya'. It's a plea to Shri Ganpati, requesting Him He return early next year.

The Deeper Meaning of Ganesha Chaturthi

Besides fun and delight, the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi unveils a much deeper meaning.
Fun and jamboree are integral elements of the Ganesha Chaturthi festival, but we are yet to discover the deeper meanings of this widespread festival.
Ganesha’s head signifies the Atman, while His body beneath the neck symbolizes Maya, the principle of existence. Atman is the original reality, while Maya emphasizes the phenomenal existence of all that’s temporary. Shri Ganesha emphasizes the similarity between microcosm and macrocosm.
It's the congruence between your inner and outer worlds, between the Jiva and Atma.
According to Shiva Purana, the worship of Shri Ganesha will fulfill the wishes of the devotee in this life itself. Shri Shiva had turned the decapitated boy into the most revered deity.
According to Hindu beliefs, people who worship Shri Ganesha with true devotion and a clean heart are freed of their sins. They are granted health, wealth, knowledge, and happiness.
Since Shri Ganpati is worshipped before starting anything new and to remove obstacles from one’s path, this time is favorable for starting new projects, work, business, and cultivating new habits.
Anything auspicious that you start during this time will bear fruit with your hard work and determination. Ganesha Chaturthi discloses the human ability to achieve anything, right from material prosperity to spiritual perfection.
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