Religion in India is still a living force and Indians appreciate and cultivate the festival spirit even in this age of industrialization and political upheavals. May be Ganesh festivals bring people together and make the nation move forward and grow. Ganesh Festival is very popular in our country. The birth of Lord Ganesh is on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapad Shukla (August/September).
This festival is celebrated for 10 days from Ganesh Chaturthi - birth -date-to Anant Chaturdashi - the final 10th day of his immersion. Everyone loves this deity with his curving trunk, potbelly and big flat ears. He is the benevolent guardian of the innocent, yet the ruthless destroyer of evil. His mount is a rat. In many states of India, but particularly in Maharashtra clay idols of Ganesh in varying sizes are made and sold. The idols are purchased and brought home the day previous to Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the day of Hartalik when women keep fast and invoke the blessings of goddess Parvati, who is Ganesh's mother.
Ganesh Chaturthi Utsav
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in India, honoring the birth of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated all over India, but the maximum magnificence is witnessed at Maharashtra. This festival witnesses different cultural events, which bring the public together and enhance the sense of belongingness and togetherness. The celebration ends with the fascination of the Lord Ganesha's idol into the water. Huge processions of people carry the idol to a river, lake or ocean, accompanied by the chant of Ganapati Bappa Morya. Ganesh Chaturthi is the important festival of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.