Celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

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Landmark: It was first started by Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was next revived by

Freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak , as he started the custom of 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav' (public festival) in Maharashtra, during the Indian Independence fight. The aim behind this was to bring the people close to each other.

Celebrations: Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in his honour all over India. In Mumbai, this festival is so popular that in Mumbai the preparations begin months in advance. Ganeshotsva is celebrated as public festivalas opposed to diwali, which is more of family gathering. 

Images of Little Ganeshji's are placed in street corners and in homes, and poojas are performed daily and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting and decoration.The Ganesh idols are kept for seven or ten days and then the 'Ganesh Visarjan' is performed on this day , whereby the idols are immersed in sea waters.               
On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, after taking their bath, people go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Ladoos are distributed and are eaten before the meal. Milk is offered to idols of lord Ganesh at home and at temples, and Ganesh puja is performed at all temples and in-house prayer rooms.

Fasting, feasting and distribution of sweets offered to Lord Ganesh are important aspects of Ganesh chaturthi rituals in India. Hindus pray to the images of Lord Ganesha,with faith and devotion so that he may remove all their obstacles. Offer Him

Rice Kheer, Moodak, Besan ke ladoo or Boondi ladoo.               

After that they go to the beaches of Mumbai for Visarjan.This immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs, chanting of 'GANPATI BAPPA MORYA' and dancing. It is also forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat.

In Rajasthan, on Ganesh Chaturthi, an image of Ganesh bathed in red kumkum with a garland of red flowers is installed by many households right outside their entrances.

A small thaal with haldi and kumkum is also placed at the entrance so that people who come visiting take a pinch of each and put it on their foreheads and throat. A kilo of ladoos are usually kept in the house and after offering them to Ganeshji they are offered as prasad to whoever visits.