Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chavathi marks the birthday of Lord Ganesh. He is known as the God of wealth, sciences, knowledge, wisdom and prosperity and that is why most Hindus worship him and seek his blessings before starting any auspicious and important occasion. The festival is celebrated for 1 to 10 days starting from the fourth day (Chaturthi) of Shukla Paksha (bright half of lunar month) of Bhadrapada (mid-August to September) the sixth month of the Hindu calendar. Hindus celebrate this festival with great devotion and joy throughout the world. It is believed that devotees who pray to Ganesh are able to fulfil their wishes and desires and set free of sins and helps them to lead their life on the path of knowledge and wisdom.

Historically, the festival has been celebrated on grand scale since the time of King Shivaji. It was during India's freedom struggle, Lokmanya Tilak changed Ganesh Chaturthi from a private celebration to a grand public festival where people from all castes of the society can come together, pray and be united. Over the years with growing environmental awareness, people have started celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in an environmentally friendly way, including Ganesh idols made of natural clay/mitti and using only flowers and natural items for decorating the pandals. People celebrate the festival by singing religious songs, Bhajans, dancing to drum beats and lighting up fireworks.
 

What is Ganesh Chaturthi stands for and how it came into existence?

The waning and waxing moon has a strong influence on our minds, moods, and emotions, and Ganesh has command over intelligence, through the power root chakra (Muladhara chakra) in our body, where all emotions are controlled. Muladhara chakra rules over the earth element and holds the Kundalini Shakti, our individual power of transcendence. This is the energy of transformation required to initiate change, and the overcoming of obstacles or pending issues. 

On the fourth night of the waxing moon, a curse was given to Moon when he made fun of the bulky body of Lord Ganesh. This signifies that our intellect gets affected by the fourth night of the Moon, so we need some higher consciousness to get rid of the darkness in life due to the lack of wisdom. Ganesh signifies the planet Mercury, with the right intellect, and the Moon signifies the mind which gets distracted from the right path. Therefore, the placement of the Moon and Mercury will be managed properly through the blessings of Ganesh, on the fourth night of the waxing moon.

On Ganesh Chaturthi, it is believed seeing moon is inauspicious since Lord Ganesh cursed Moon for ridiculing him and is believed that the person will face false allegations and defamed for an entire year

How do we welcome Lord Ganesh and what are the four main rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi?

For Ganesh Puja at home, clean your house and take head bath by putting coconut oil. Wear your traditional dress for Ganesh Chaturthi to reflect the joyous and energetic nature of the festival. Choose vibrant, vivacious hues like red, yellow, orange, or green. These hues are regarded as lucky and stand for joy and abundance. These colors often augment your vigor and enhance the overall festive vibe.

The four main rituals, namely Prana Pratishta, Shodashopachara, Uttarpuja, and Ganpati Visarjan are performed. Madhyahna or mid-day is considered to be the most auspicious time since it is believed that Ganesh was born during that time of the day. For Prana Pratishta, prepare the Ganesh Mandapam with all or any of these - coconut, Mango and banana leaves. Place a Kalash filled with water and rice adjacent to the designated place for the idol of Lord Ganesh. Now place the idol of Lord Ganesh, saying 'Om Ganeshay Namah'. Saying 'Om Gan Ganpatiye Namah' (O Lord, I may make your qualities a part of my personality), place the Paan leaves with a whole Supari in front of Lord Ganesh and the Kalash and pray for the festival to be a blessed one. Lord Ganesh is worshipped with all sixteen rituals (Shodashopachara) along with chanting of the most succinct and powerful Ganesh Mool mantra for 108 times.

एकदन्ताय विद्‌महे, वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि, तन्नो दन्ती प्रचोदयात् ॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Meaning: We bow to Lord Ganapati, who has ivory teeth and who is omnipresent. We pray to Lord Ganesh to grant us more wisdom and illuminate our lives with knowledge. We bow before you. 

By chanting this mantra, a positive energy prevails in the house, all your worries, sorrows and tensions disappear, and all the family members get strength, concentration, wealth, happiness, and success in life.

Fasting and praising the supreme deity on this day brings knowledge, health, wealth, and happiness to a devotee. For Naivedyam, prepare Ganesh’s favorite food, Modak. These Modak sweets are made of rice or wheat flour and then filled with a mixture of coconut and jaggery. Pooran Poli, Obattu, and Karanji are also prepared for friends, family and visitors.

 

On the last day of the festival, Uttarpuja is performed, a ritual bidding Ganesh farewell. After this, he is carried in a public procession with Kirtan (devotional music) to a nearby body of water in which he is immersed.

Which Ganesh mantra removes obstacles in life?

Lord Ganesh is prayed at the beginning of every occasion, as he is the deity who removes obstacles. 

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय​ सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ​।
Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Sama Prabha

निर्विघ्नम् कुरु मे देव​ सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा॥
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva Karyesu Sarvada. 

Meaning: O Lord with Curved Trunk, One with huge body, one with the radiance of Crore Suns

Please make all my actions Free from troubles

What is the message of Ganesh Chaturthi?

May the divine blessings of Lord Ganesh destroy all your worries, sorrows and tensions and bring you eternal bliss and peace, protect you from evil and wrongdoings, and fulfill all your wishes and desires.. I pray that Ganesh bestows you with happiness, wisdom, good health and prosperity. May Lord Ganpati always be by your side in every test of your life.

The festival also denotes the significance of the cycle of birth, life and death. It is believed that with the immersion idol of the Ganesh, all our obstacles also get destroyed. And all the devotees sing in chorus.

गणपती बाप्पा मोरया, पुढच्या वर्षी लवकर या

O Lord Ganapati, our father, go ahead and please come back again the next year'. Marathi word Morya has amalgamation of two words, 'Mhor' and 'Ya' which translates to come forward and bless us with wisdom.