Ganesh Chaturthi 2022

Lord Ganesha is one of the most celebrated Gods in the Hindu Mythology. He is considered the god of fortune and prosperity and so every new work is begun by worshipping him to help him clear all the obstacles that come in his devotee’s way. He is the son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. He has the head of the elephant and the body of a human which makes him quiet distinguished amongst other clients.

Lord Ganesha Early Life

One day Goddess Parvati decided to take a bath. To ensure that no one entered the cave where she bathed, she took the turmeric paste and created a human form out of it and breathed life him it and this is how Lord Ganesha was born. She declared him to be his son and went for her bath. When Shiva came back and went to meet his wife, Ganesha did not let God Shiva enter the cave showing unconditional loyalty to his mother. Enraged and not knowing the identity of the boy, Shiva cut his head from the body. Parvati on learning this felt so insulted that she decided on destroying the universe. On an intervention with the other gods, Parvati agreed to stop the destruction on two conditions. One that her son be brought back to life and second that Ganesha would be forever worshipped as a God. Shiva on realizing his mistake agreed to these conditions. He asked everyone to bring back the head of a child who was sleeping in the opposite direction of his mother. The gods brought him back the head of a baby elephant. Shiva placed the head on Ganesh’s body and breathed life into him. On regaining life, Shiva declared Ganesha to be his own son and gave him the status of a God.

Festival of Ganesh Chaturthi

There are a lot of stories in the Hindu Mythology about Lord Ganesha that fill us with wonder and utmost respect for the god. Every year, to honor the god and celebrate his birth, his devotees celebrate the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi with utmost joy. The celebrations last for 21 days but the main festival is for 10 days and commences on a given date which changes every year according to the Hindu calendar. This year, the date for Ganesh Chaturthi 2022 is 31 August. People welcome the idols of Lord Ganesha to their home or put them on elevated platforms in temples and public areas. This denotes that Ganesha has come to live with them at their homes. For 10 days the god is worshipped with prayers, chants, and mantras. He is offered his favorite food and other great delicacies along with flowers and incense of various kinds. People dress up in colorful attires and dance throughout the day thanking God for all that he has given his devotees and ask him to bless them in the future too. The chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya echo in the air throughout the festival. Temples are decorated with flowers, lights, and lamps to celebrate the birth of the great God. On the last day of the festival, the idol of the god is dipped in holy water and a procession amidst great music; dance, drum beats, and chanting take the idol of Lord Ganesha to the sea where the idol is immersed in water. This ritual signifies Lord Ganesha’s start journey to his abode in Mt. Kailash.