Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Date, History, and Everything You Must Know

Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as ‘Vinayak Chavithi’. Know how, when and where to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024

Ganesh Chaturthi 2021

Ganesh Chaturthi is an annual festival commemorating Lord Ganesh’s birth. The festival takes place in August/September, according to the Gerogian calendar. The date for Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 is Saturday 7 September. Ganesh Chaturthi is also referred to as ‘Vinayak Chavithi’.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2024?

Ganesha Chaturthi is on Saturday, 7 September 2024. The festival lasts ten days, with the final day, Anant Chaturdashi, falling on September 17th.

Depending on the lunar cycle, the celebration takes place in late August or early September. In the Hindu month of Bhadrapad, it occurs on the fourth day after the new moon.

History of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

The Peshwas popularised Ganesha Chaturthi in the 18th century, and Lokmanya Tilak commended the yearly household festival of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in his newspaper, Kesari, and dedicated his efforts to turning it into a major, well-organized public event. Lord Ganesha is commonly referred to as “everyone’s god.”

Mythology behind Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

Goddess Parvati is said to have created Lord Ganesh out of clay and given him life. She then requested him to keep an eye on the gate and make sure no one came in while she bathed. When Lord Shiva attempted to enter, Ganesha refused. The child’s head was then removed by enraged Shiva. Goddess Parvati was devastated.

Lord Shiva then ordered his men to fetch the head of the first creature they encountered, which they were to replace on Ganesha’s body. The men, on the other hand, were only able to find a baby elephant’s head. Lord Ganesha was reincarnated with the head of an elephant in this manner. Ganesha was named Ganpati and was made the leader of Shiva’s disciples, the Ganas. He is a personification of good fortune and wealth.

Which states celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi Festival?

The festival is widely celebrated in the state of Maharashtra. One of the best places to experience the festival in Mumbai is the Siddhivinayak temple. Other celebratory states include Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

Traditions/ Rituals of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

  1. Installation of Ganapati statue: A statue Ganpati is installed either at home or in a public place with pranprathishtha puja.
  2. Not looking at the moon: On the first night of the festival, people avoid looking at the moon
  3. Praying: Washing of the statue, chanting of shlokas, offerings of flowers and sweets, doing aarti with a plate filled with diya, kumkum and flowers are part of this festival.
  4. Special performances: Some public celebrations conduct performances like dance, music, and skits.
  5. Making modak:  Ganapati’s favourite sweet is said to be modak. Therefore, these dumplings are  distributed as Prasad.
  6. Visarjan: The immersion of the idol in a water or visarjan is conducted on the last day. It is accompanied by a procession of people chanting bhajans and shlokas.

Popular Cuisines of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

The main and most important sweet dish during the festival is Modak but karanji is also quite popular. Laddu, vundrallu, panakam, vadapappu and chalividi are some of the other main items cooked during this festival.

Places to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 in India

Mumbai:  Maharashtra, celebrates the festival of Vinayaka Chaturthi with great enthusiasm and zeal.

Pune: This city holds one of the country’s best Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations. In Pune’s cultural, religious, and social life, the festival is the most happy and colorful celebration.

Hyderabad:  Hyderabad, also witness the royal celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Goa: The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with warmth in Goa.

Places to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Outside India

Pakistan, UK, Philadelphia, Canada, Mauritius, Malaysia, and Singapore. 

Learn some interesting and unique facts about these places in “Little Explorers Podcast”

Why are the Ganesh statues immersed in water?

The festival’s spectacular end is the goodbye procession, or Ganesh Visarjan. The idols are immersed in water on the last day. It’s done to acknowledge that the universe is constantly changing , and nothing is permanent. 

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