Ganesh Chaturthi

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all

Ganesh Chaturthi is an important Hindu festival which is celebrated across the country with excitement and zest. The festival is on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra which typically falls in the month of August or September. This year, Ganeshostav commences on September 13.

During the festival, which ends with Ananth Chaturdashi on September 23 this year, people bring Ganesha idols home for worship. There are temporary pandals built in several areas for the general public. The idol is immersed in water on the last day. Those who wish to can immerse the idol on the second, fifth and seventh days of the festival.



Ganesha is considered to be the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is known as the God of wisdom, a symbol of new beginnings, the remover of obstacles and the deity of good fortune.

Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed god with small eyes, large ears and four hands. He holds an axe in the right upper hand (to cut off all bonds of attachments), a rope in the upper left hand (to pull you nearer to the highest goal). The lower right hand signifies blessings (protecting the spiritual path of the supreme), and he holds a modak in his lower left hand (rewards for meditation).

The primary sweet dish during the festival is the modak.

Nowadays, people are very conscious about their Ganesha idols being eco-friendly and not made of plaster of Paris as the latter, when immersed, causes water pollution. Many people have started buying clay idols which is one of the eco-friendly options available.