Ganesh Chaturthi : A Divine Celebration

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Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayak Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated in India with a great devotion. This day is celebrated as a birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This is one of the most popular festival in the country which is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada(between August and September. Ganpati is the God of wisdom and herald of auspicious beginnings, his blessings are invoked at most religious ceremonies as he is the one who can remove all the obstacles to success, he is the giver of fortune. It is important, according to tradition, not to look at the moon during certain times on Ganesh Chaturthi. If a person sees the moon, they'll be cursed with accusations of theft and dishonored by society unless they chant a certain mantra. 
People bring home murtis (Idols) of Lord Ganesha and celebrate the festival by worshiping the Lord in a special way for a day & a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 9 days, 11 days or 21 days depending on the family tradition and commitment of each individual. The work of skilled artisans begins months before the festival arrives. Various artistic clay models of Lord Ganesha in different poses are made, the size varying from 3/4th inch to around 70 feet.These statues are installed in decorated pandals in homes, localities ans temples. Garlands and lights add up to the beauty of the statue. A ritual known as Pranapratishhtha, that involves chanting of mantras by the is made after this, the prayers are offered in 16 different ways in a rituals called Shhodashopachara. People are so much excited for Ganesha to come home as they make beautiful & colorful decorations, draw rangoli, also a Matoli tradition is followed which is much more than a decorative canopy laid out above the idol of Lord Ganesha during the festival and also make different types of delicacies which Ganesha loves while worshiping the deity. Ganesha's one of the favourite sweet is Modak, his immense love for modaks has also earned him the title of 'Modapriya'. 
It is believed that God returns to his heavenly abode after 10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The idols are taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash. Sweets, coconuts, flowers and Aarti are offered to the idol prior to immersion in the sea. This ritual is known as 'Ganesh Visarjan' or immersion of Lord Ganesha and the procession flock the street with the chanting, "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Laukar Ya".

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