Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha - the elephant-headed God of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings. Observed on the fourth day of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha (August-September), this festival is one of the most visually spectacular and emotionally charged celebrations in India, particularly in Maharashtra, where it was popularized as a public festival by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 to foster unity during the independence movement.
The festival begins with the installation (Pranapratishtha) of beautifully crafted Ganesha idols in homes and public pandals (temporary stages). Skilled artisans spend months creating these idols from clay, ranging from small household versions to towering public installations reaching up to 30 feet or more. The idol is consecrated with Vedic chants, and the eyes are ritually "opened" to invoke the deity's presence.
For the duration of the festival - which lasts from 1.5 to 11 days depending on tradition - daily puja is performed with offerings of modak (sweet dumplings, said to be Ganesha's favorite), durva grass, red flowers, and coconut. The 21 modaks offering is especially significant. Cultural programs, music, and community activities are organized at public pandals, creating a carnival-like atmosphere throughout the city. In Mumbai, the Lalbaugcha Raja and Siddhivinayak celebrations draw millions of devotees.
The festival culminates in the immersion procession (Visarjan), where Ganesha idols are carried through the streets with massive processions accompanied by dhol-tasha (drums), dance, and chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O Lord Ganesha, come again soon next year). The immersion in water bodies symbolizes the cycle of creation and dissolution, and Ganesha's return to Mount Kailash to his parents, Shiva and Parvati.
