India is a land of various traditions, festivals and rituals. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of India’s most auspicious and grand festivals celebrated lavishly and with the great glory. Ganesh Chaturthi is also called the Vinayak Chaturthi, and it is celebrated in honor of the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, the superior of all Gods, as called and declared by Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha embodies knowledge, wisdom, good fortune and virtue. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati and is also known by other names such as Ekdanta, Siddhi Vinayaka, Ganpati, Vakratunda, Gajanana, etc. The devotees worship him as the God of new beginnings and good fortune. Worshipping him on the Ganesh Chaturthi will lead to the removal of the obstacles and hindrances from one’s life. In various Indian states like Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh, the Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with incredible happiness and bliss.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2022?
This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be observed and celebrated on 31st August 2022, Wednesday. It comes between August and September and usually falls on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of the Bhadrapada month. The Chaturthi tithi will begin at 3:33 PM on 30th August 2022 and end on 3:23 PM on 31st August 2022. The Ganesh Puja timing is between 11:12 AM and 1:42 PM on 31st August 2022.
Rituals of Celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival lasts for ten days. On the first day of the Ganesh Festival, people clean and decorate their homes and bring small idols of the Lord Ganesha to their homes. Sweets such as favorite modaks or laddoos of Lord Ganesha, flowers and “Nariyal” is being offered to Lord Ganesha, and the lamp is also lit in front of the lord’s idol. Lord Ganesha is considered the honored guest by the devotees in their homes during these ten days. On all ten days of the festival, and during the evening, prayers and aartis are recited, and prasad is distributed.
On Anant Chaturdashi, on the tenth day, the idols of Lord Ganesh are immersed in the water as a part of the “Visarjan.” This ritual symbolizes the journey back of Lord Ganesha to his home – Mount Kailash, where his parents live. Some devotees also perform the Visarjan and immerse the idols in the water within one and a half days, the third day, the fifth day, the seventh day or the eleventh day. Devotees chant forgiveness for their mistakes and request God to keep them on the right path. Lord is also thanked for visiting the devotees’ homes.
As per the genuine astrologer, this festival should be celebrated with great faith and belief. We wish you all a very Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! May Lord Ganesh brings happiness, wisdom, prosperity and success to everyone’s lives.