Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaturti, is the birthday of Lord
Ganesha, the God of wisdom, prosperity and auspiciousness. Ganesha is today
worshipped around the world and the Elephant-faced god is one of the
most popular deities associated with Hinduism
Ganesha is the remover of obstacle - Vighneshwara or Vignaraja.
It is believed that Goddess Parvati created Ganesha out of clay and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door, Goddess Parvati went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Ganesha did not allow Shiva to enter and finally an enraged Shiva severed the head of the child. Goddess Parvati returned to find her son dead and was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha and giving birth to elephant-headed Ganesha.
Offerings to the Lord, called neivedhyam, consist of varieties of modaks++ (known in the south as kozhukattai), both sweet and savory, raw rice idli (steamed dumplings), payasam (a sweet, milk-based dessert) and optionally, specially prepared ellurundai (til seed balls) and appams (sweetened rice pancakes) Coconut, betel leaves and nuts and a variety of fruits make up the rest.
In 2012 Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaturti is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada which starts on Sept. 19 and lasts until Sept. 29. which is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada starts on Sept. 19 and lasts until Sept. 29,2012
Statues of Elephant Headed God Ganesha on sale on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012.
Statues of Elephant Headed God Ganesha on sale on the eve of the Ganesh Chaturti festival in Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012
Devotees take a procession with a statue of Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesh carried by monkey god Hanuman in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
Devotees take a procession with a statue of Hindu elephant headed god "Ganesh" in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
An idol of Lord Ganesha is lifted on a crane for immersion into the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad
Devotees carry an idol of Lord Ganeshaa for immersion during Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad
Devotees carry an idol of Ganesha for immersion in the Yamuna in front of the Taj Mahal
Devotees immerse an idol of Lord Ganesha in Agra
Devotees carry an idol of Ganesha for immersion in Chennai
Cranes were used to immerse Ganesh Idols in Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore
Ganesha is the remover of obstacle - Vighneshwara or Vignaraja.
It is believed that Goddess Parvati created Ganesha out of clay and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door, Goddess Parvati went to have her bath. When her husband, Lord Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Ganesha did not allow Shiva to enter and finally an enraged Shiva severed the head of the child. Goddess Parvati returned to find her son dead and was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha and giving birth to elephant-headed Ganesha.
Offerings to the Lord, called neivedhyam, consist of varieties of modaks++ (known in the south as kozhukattai), both sweet and savory, raw rice idli (steamed dumplings), payasam (a sweet, milk-based dessert) and optionally, specially prepared ellurundai (til seed balls) and appams (sweetened rice pancakes) Coconut, betel leaves and nuts and a variety of fruits make up the rest.
In 2012 Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaturti is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada which starts on Sept. 19 and lasts until Sept. 29. which is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada starts on Sept. 19 and lasts until Sept. 29,2012
Statues of Elephant Headed God Ganesha on sale on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012.
Statues of Elephant Headed God Ganesha on sale on the eve of the Ganesh Chaturti festival in Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012
Devotees take a procession with a statue of Hindu elephant-headed god Ganesh carried by monkey god Hanuman in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
Devotees take a procession with a statue of Hindu elephant headed god "Ganesh" in Mumbai, India, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012
An idol of Lord Ganesha is lifted on a crane for immersion into the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad
Devotees immerse an idol of Lord Ganesha in Agra
Devotees carry an idol of Ganesha for immersion in Chennai
Cranes were used to immerse Ganesh Idols in Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore
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