Happy Ganesha Chaturthi

Dear Viewers,

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

Ganesh Chaturthi falls in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada on Chauthi or Chaturthi. Its a belief that Goddess Gowri (Swarna Gowri)would come to their parents house for Gowri festival and Lord Ganesh would come to take back his mother on Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh loves to dance on that day, along with the dancing group(s).

This year (2009) we are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi on August 23rd on a Sunday. And Gowri Puja is also celebrated on the same day.

But the sculpturers would start making sculptures of Gowri and Ganesh from June only. You can see different kinds of sculptures and here is just one image of Ganesh in which there are 6 ganeshas along with the main one. There will be traditional Ganeshas and also fancy Ganesh.

This puja will extend from 1 day to 1 month. In houses it would be kept for maximum of 1 to 3 days. While on streets, near shopping malls, it might go from 5 days to 1 month.

I remember, when i was at Chintamani a big Ganesh would be kept for 3 days and 4th day they would leave it back in water. It means that Ganesh is taking his mother Gowri and then returning back to his home. There used to be competitions viz., painting, essay, dancing, skits, thol-mol-ke-bhol (means one gift article or something like that would be shown and we have to guess the price of it) and all the people who used to stay on this road will become so close to each other and it looks as if they are all in one family. Prasadams would be done atleast by one house per day and distributed to the people who come to visit Lord Ganesha. There would be neatly decorated mantap with shamiyana on the road with serial lights and music. Few shops would sponsor per day for prizes. There will be excited crowd to address all these things all the 3 days. And on the fourth day they will book a tempot to carry the Ganesha all the people will go and drop the Ganesha into the lake by telling "ganesha banda kayi kadabu tinda hote mele banda chikka kerele bida dodda kerele yeda" [kannada line] which means - Lord Ganesha has come and ate the sweet (kadabu) he was carried on our stomachs he fall into small lake and got up from big lake. These moments is really eternal in my entire life.

Remember, on this day better not to see the moon. If you couldn't avoid then read the story of Lord Ganesha or see the moon on bedege, second day after the amavasya.

Once again, wish you all Happy Gowri festival and Ganesha Chaturthi.