The Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is celebrated with great enthusiasm to honor the birth of Lord Ganesha. This festival is typically celebrated for ten days, starting in late August or early September.
People from all over India and the world gather to create intricate clay idols of Lord Ganesha, decorate them with beautiful designs, and immerse them in water bodies with great devotion on the final day. The festival is marked by vibrant processions, devotional music, and a sense of unity, representing the removal of obstacles and the arrival of new beginnings.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a celebration of cultural diversity, spirituality, and community bonding.
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Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: All You Need To Know
Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 : Start & End Date
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will commence on Tuesday, September 07, 2024. Ganesh Visarjan will be conducted on September 17, 2024.
Ganesh Puja Samagri List & Puja Muhurat
Ganesh Chaturthi is an auspicious occasion which is celebrated for a period of 10 days. The puja samagri list for Ganesh Puja is stated as follows:
- Lord Ganesh Idol.
- Glass and spoon.
- Kumkum and turmeric.
- Akshata (mixing rice with wet turmeric, saffron and sandalwood paste).
- A piece of red cloth
- Agarbatti or incense sticks with match box
- Camphor
- Bananas, flowers, mango leaves, betel leaves and nuts
- Sandalwood paste
- Kalash
- Coconut
- Some money for dakshina
- Panchamrita
- Two small lamps with ghee and cotton wicks
- Rice and holy grass
The auspicious hour to welcome Lord Ganesha on Chaturthi Tithi starts at 3:01 PM on September 6 and concludes at 5:37 PM on September 7. On September 7, 2024, the ideal puja muhurat is 11:03 AM up to 1:34 PM.
Ganesh Puja Vidhi
During Ganesh Chaturthi, there are a specific set of rules to be followed before commencing the Ganesh Puja.
- Wake up early, take a bath and wear clean clothes. It is considered auspicious to wear red clothing.
- Take a flat platform, cover it with a red or yellow cloth and place the Ganesh idol on it.
- Now sprinkle some water, light an oil lamp, then apply tilak using turmeric and vermilion on the forehead.
- Offer sweets including ladoos and modaks, yellow flowers and a concoction of sweet Betel leaves.
- Also, include paan leaves, betel nut, cloves, five types of dried fruits and an assorted plate of fresh fruits.
- Now, drape the head with a beautiful dupatta for added respect.
- Consider decorating the surrounding place with various decorative items.
- Commence the puja by chanting the mantra : “Om Gan Ganpataye Namah”.
- Now continue the puja by narrating the Bindayak Katha, then the Ganesh Stotram, and finally recite the Ganesh Aarti.
- It is best to listen to bhajans and kirtans during this period.
Many people who are not able to get Lord Ganesha at home, can anytime visit temples and offer ladoos and Durva to Lord Ganpati.
Ganesh Puja Mantra
A mantra in simple language is a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated by someone who is praying or meditating. Some of the popular puja mantras are:
Ganesh Mantra for Wealth: “Vakratunda Maha-Kaaya Surya-Kotti Samaprabha | Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvadaa ||”
Ganesh Mantra for Blessings : “ Gajananam Bhuta Ganadhi Sevitam Kapittha Jambu Palasara Bhaksitam | Uma Sutam Shoka Vinasha Karanam Namami Vignesvara Pada Pankajam ||”
A few other mantras for Ganesh Puja are :
- Om Shree Ganeshaye Namah
- Ekdantaye Vidmahe Vakratundaye, Dheemahi Tanno Danti Prachodayat
- Om Gan Ganpataye Namah
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrated?
The journey of Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations began like this. In terms of Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati gave birth to Lord Ganesha. One day, Goddess Parvati gave strict instructions to Lord Ganesha to guard her chambers.
In the meanwhile, Lord Shiva approached the chamber and requested Ganesha to enter inside stating that he was his mother’s better half. However, in accordance with his mother’s wishes, Lord Ganesha refused to allow Shiva to enter the chamber.
This made God Shiva furious and he severed his head. Seeing this, Goddess Parvati broke down and made a promise to destroy the universe if her son did not come back. She went on to say that to preserve all of creation from her wrath, her boy should be brought back to life and worshiped before all other Gods.
Lord Shiva eventually consented to this condition and directed his Ganas to go on a quest for the little boy’s head. When Lord Shiva couldn’t find the head, he attached the head of a young elephant and brought him back to life.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as a festival of community bonding, spiritual devotion, and a sense of hope for the future.
Ganesh Chaturthi : Visarjan Date
On the day of the Visarjan, the final puja is concluded by waving camphor flame in front of the idol. On the way of the immersion, Ganesh shlokas are chanted loudly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Ganesh Chaturthi :
Modak is Lord Ganesha’s most favorite and special food.
Ganesh Chaturthi is said to last for a period of 10 days.
Ganesh Visarjan will be held on Tuesday, September 17th.
Conclusion
Ganesh Chaturthi is a popular festival celebrated on a grand scale in many households. We hope our article helped you know more about the timings, date and other details about Ganesh Chaturthi 2024. Make sure to have a safe, fun-filled and joyous Ganesh Chaturthi.
