Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesha Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This is a day when Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, was born. It is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. This festival is observed on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Hindu calendar month of Bhadrapada (August-September). It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all parts of the world. This festival lasts for 10 days and ends on Ananta Chaturdashi. Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. There is a custom of worshipping him first in any prayers. Its considered to be very asupicious to recite his name before starting anew venture or any new work.

Lord Ganesha- the elephant deity riding a mouse- is the son of Shiva and Parvati.He is considered to be the Lord of success and destroyer of evil forces and obstacles. His head which has got the elephant like countenance symboloises the soul or Atman and His human body signifies the earthly existence or Maya. Atman or the soul is the ultimate reality of human existence. Maya is what the human being gets entrapped into during the existence of his body. He is also worshipped as the God of wisdom,knowledge,education and wealth by people seekig knowledge and wealth.He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues of Ganesha.

During this festival, the clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two days, or in some cases ten days, they are immersed into water. The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to have the head of an elephant: Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.

When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body of Ganesha.

Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.

Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing.

In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the alphabet taught.

The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu, Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha, Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi.