Last week we celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, one of my the most favorite festivals since childhood. Growing up in India I have very fond memories of Ganesh Utshav. Now, as any immigrant parent raising kids here in United states I struggle to teach my kids the cultures and festivals of the back home. Times have change and so do we. However, what is not changed are those fond memories of childhood celebrating Ganesh Utstav. SO today I wanted to share with you Why and how we celebrate this Ganesh Utstav and little bit background of this festival which is one of the biggest social event celebrated dearly not only in each and every home but from the smallest nuke of the colonies, villages , cities , offices everywhere bringing people together.
In Hindu religion there are many Gods, however, lord Ganesha is the most divine figure you will find in each and every Indian's heart and in home in many unimaginable forms. You will find it in the car, on the highest roof of the cupboard , in the living room or on the study table, on the calendars , on the wedding cards. Lord Ganesha has a elephant head, 4 hands , a big belly , one tooth and he has a rat as his vehicle . Though it has unconventional appearance Lord Ganesha is a symbol of intelligence, is the Lord of arts and sciences and the deva of wisdom, he is removal of obstacles and he is honored at the start of rituals and ceremonies as he's considered the God of beginnings.
Lord Ganesh is the son of Shiva - the destroyer and Goddess Parwati. There is very interesting story of the birth of Ganesha and how did he get an Elephant head and my kids never get tired listening the story. Ganesh is also called Ganapati- meaning who was created without "pati" meaning a man/husband. The great god Shiva used to go for meditation on the mountain Kailash years and years , and while he was away Parwati with her powers created a son for herself from her own sweat and sandalwood she was wearing on her skin. Thus Ganesha is born from his mother Goddess Parwati and unware of his father Lord Shiva. One day Parwati was taking a bath and she asks Ganesha to guard her chamber and asks him not to let anyone enter. Obedient Ganesha is following her mother's orders when Lord Shiva comes back from his meditation and demands to enter the chamber, unknown of his father Ganesh denies him the entrance. Lord Shiva cannot bear the rudeness of the small kid and unknown of his own son, he cuts his head with his Trishul. At the same time Parwati enters and seeing Ganesha beheaded by her husband gets angry and horrified , asks Shiva to bring her dear son back to life. Realizing that he had beheaded his own Son , remorseful Lord Shiva says there is only one way he can bring Ganesha back to life. He asks his ganas- attendants to go and find any living animal in few seconds and whatever animal they find he can use his head to replace Ganesh's. Ganas happen to find an elephant and that’s how Ganesha gets an elephant head. Lord Shiva also gives a blessings to Ganesha that he will be always the first God who will be always worshiped by everyone .Thus Ganesha is always beings worshipped first before worshipping any other God, and also before starting any new project, new mission Ganesh is worshipped first.
In early September or late August at the 4th day after the waxing cycle of moon every year we celebrate this festival . The festival is for 10 days. However, each family has their own tradition to celebrate it from a day , 5 days or 10 days. In my home we used to have it for 5 days. But before that at least a month, my grand mom and mom would get started ready . While they would be busy in home cleaning , preparing grocery lists, cooking all sorts of traditional sweets and snacks, my grandfather and father would get busy outside with booking the Ganesh idol, shopping the groceries , and setting up decorations for our small temple/stage where our bappa would stay . And then at the first day of the festival, we would bring our bappa in home with the chanting of "Ganapati bappa morya" , placed him a decorated stages , worshipped daily with aarties and sweet offerings of Modak and laddus. My favorite tasks on those 5 days is decorating front yard with sand designs called Rangolies, picking up flowers from gardens and making beautiful garlands for our bappa. And those 5 days are filled with much fun, food and hustle bustle of guests . At the evening I used to go out in the city to watch different decorations and famous idols with my family or friends.
In addition to these festivities in home, what I especially enjoyed the most in those days, is the Ganapati Utshav that was being celebrated in my neighborhood. At least a month before Ganesh's arrival all the volunteers used to start there planning, they used to go to each house to collect the contribution for the festivities. Then the young boys and men rolled their sleeves to build the stage. Local artists , passionate volunteers start meeting together to plan culture programs, event planning for adults and kids. All this fun used to start from the day first when a big 100 feet Ganesh Idol comes to the neighborhood with the big bang and worshiped for 10 days with daily puja, aarti and offerings from each family a day. And O boy, what a fun for us kid! Remember that were the days no cell phones, no video games with very limited TV channels. At the age of 6 or 7 , it was Ganesh festival where I first got introduced to group dance which later became my favorite hobby. Also, it came to know my athletics skills are just limited to lemon and spoon competition. The entertainment was full on with drams by us kids and dramas , dances , signing competitions for adults as well.
And after 10 days of the fun a day comes to bode a colorful farewell to dear Lord Ganesh which is called Visarjan. when Ganesh idols are taken out across the city streets in a procession of over million flowers, in the sounds of traditional instrumentations called Dhol and tasha and folk music and dances before being floated out to a river . Whole city goes into a frenzy on the day of Visarjan. Amidst the chanting of “Ganapati bappa morya”, the festival ends with the pleas to Lord Ganesh to return early next year.
Time has change , and so the style and format of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. However, what is not changed the fond memories of the celebration in childhood. That might be the reason when Ganesh festival comes , I feel nostalgic remembering the old days spent in fun with family and friends. With these sweet moments I want to conclude saying "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi lawkar ya" meaning Wish you blessings lord Ganesha and Pleading Lord to come back early again next year.