*~ Happy Ganesh Chaturthi|The Obstacle Breaker & Miracle Maker ~*

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MJ1009cc

@MJ_1009

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Posted: 8 years ago

Vighne-ashwaraay Varday Surpriyay,

Lambodaraay Sakalaay Jagadvitaay |

Gajaananaay Shrutiyagya Vibhushitaay

Gourisutaay Gananaath Namo Namaste

Also known as Vinayak Chaturti, this festival is celebrated for ten days in the Hindu month of Bhadra (occurring between middle of August and September). On this occasion, Hindus celebrate the birth of the 'Remover of Obstacles.'

The celebrations of Ganesh Chaturti is known to originated from the Satavahana, Rashtrakuta and Chalukya dynasties, as explained by historian Shri Rajwade. Since Maharashtra is known for celebrating this event with much grandeur, it was known that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, a Maratha emperor, began this tradition to advocate Hindu culture and nationalism. During the reign of the Peshas, it is believed that Lord Ganesha was the main idol of the family. Between 1818 and 1892, this celebration was transitioned into a family occasion.

During the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a Indian freedom fighter and nationalist, was known to revive Ganesh Chaturti and transitioned it into a national, public affair. He was known as 'Lokmanya' or 'he who is regarded by the people.' In 1893, Tilak placed pictures of Lord Ganesha in pandals and submerged His statue in the water on the last day. Regardless of the social status, everyone came and enjoyed this festival, despite forbiddance from the British Empire.

The formation of the Elephant Head

According to the Shiva Purana, Goddess Parvati went to take a bath while Mahadev returned from Gajasura's stomach. She asked Nandi to guard, however, he couldn't deny his Lord's orders. Therefore, she created a boy from her body's turmeric paste and asked him to guard the door. The boy obeyed and didn't let Lord Shiva enter. Enraged, Shiva battled and decapitated the boy's head. Upon hearing this, Parvati was angered, ordered her avatars, and planned to end the Creation. She wanted to revive her son and make him be venerated before the other gods. Shiva accepted her conditions and told his devotees to look for a dead creature's head, facing north. An elephant's head was found and placed on the dead boy's body. He was named Ganesha and the head of all the Ganas. Other versions include Lord Shani's vision slaying Ganesha's head, Shiva reducing a baby's five heads to one and making him Parvati's son, and Rishi Kashyap's curse of Shiva's son having his head separated.

The Story of His Broken Tusk In Mahabharata, sage Vyasa requested Ganesha to write and understand a poem. Ganesha told him to tell the poem without interruption. As the sage began to recite, Ganesha's pen was broken. Therefore, he broke his tusk to write the poem. Another version talks about how Ganesh made Parashurama, a form of Lord Vishnu, break his tusk consensually.

From Shiva's son to Ganapati A competition arose between the Devas to become the head of the Ganas. Therefore, it was paramount to travel the whole world. Ganesha also participated, however, he was heavy and couldn't travel on his mouse. He was angered by Narada because he faced a Brahmin that was alone. Moreover, it is inauspicious to be asked for one's destination. However, Narada calmed him and suggested that the world revolved around Shiva. He circled around his father and was awarded the position of the Head because of his wisdom.

Modak Priye Ganesha Kubera, the god of wealth, invited Shiva for a feast. Shiva said that his son, Ganesha, would come on his behalf and warned about his appetite. Kubera disregarded the warning and took Ganesha with him. Ganesha was bestowed with respect through certain rituals. During feast time, Ganesha ate a lot and demanded for more food continuously. Kubera was in a dilemma and begged him for mercy. He asked Shiva for help. Shiva gave some roasted rice to Kubera, suggesting to serve with love. As Ganesha almost gulped the entire city, Kubera satisfied Ganesha with the rice.

Cursing of Chandradev In Brahma Vivartha Purana, it was stated that once, a devotee gave the Lord some sweets, which he consumed. As night time approached, he carried the sweets. However, he slipped and all the sweets were all over the place. While picking them up, Lord Ganesha noticed Chandra Dev (the Moon God) making fun of him. The Lord cursed him due to this. Chandra Dev begged for an apology from him. Although Chandra Dev was forgiven, Lord Ganesha stated that the full moon won't be observed from that day onwards. It will appear in every 15 days. Moreover, he stated that anyone looking at the moon would face obstacles.

If anyone glances at the moon on this day, they are bound to listen and speak the story of the syamantka jewel, from the Puranas: According to this story, Satrajit was inseparable from a jewel syamantaka despite Lord Krishna promising to protect it. Once his brother, Prasena, was hunting, however, he was attacked by a lion, who in turn was killed by Jambavan. Satrajit blamed the Lord of Dwarka for murdering his brother. To prove his innocence, Krishna sought to find the jewel and he was able to locate it in Jambavan's cave. Jambavan and Krishna attacked one another for 28 days till Jambavan understood that Krishna was Lord Rama in his previous birth. Jambavan's body was depleted from attacking Krishna's fists. He returned the jewel and granted his daughter, Jambavati's hand in a wedding alliance. Krishna also received Satrajit's daughter, Satyabhama, in marriage after returning the jewel. He declined the offer of the jewel. With such a rich lore surrounding the festival, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much pomp and joy. We, at Crazy Creatives wholeheartedly hope that Bappa blesses you all with happiness and success.

-RD-

.nerfherder

.LilGreenRobot.

pancakes.-Amethyst-.

_Padfoot_

Edited by _Meena_ - 8 years ago

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Strikhedonia

@Strikhedonia

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Posted: 8 years ago

Ganesh Chaturthi has always not just been a festival but a celebration of unadulterated devotion, togetherness and joy. Right from kids watching or hearing stories of Lord Ganesha to adults celebrating his arrival by bringing home his idols, performing Puja and making all of Bappa's favourite snacks, it is an occasion of pure joy and love. However, the youngsters go to a great extent to celebrate this festival.

For instance, dance competitions are organised in several places as a way of welcoming Lord Ganesha. Through these dances, they get to know more about various cultures and arts. Several clusters of youngsters also conduct various competitions in his honor in their locality. These competitions not only become a form of welcoming the beloved Lord but also acts as a means of entertainment for the people involved in it.

Some youngsters in Pune had also taken to drumming to welcome Lord Ganesha. A group of dhol pathaks (drummers' groups) containing several youths participating out of sheer interest adorned the streets. Many of them had been engineering students practicing under the guidance of professionals. It was done not for money but for the love of the art.

Many Ganesh idols are made out of Plaster of Paris which when immersed in water causes the water bodies to get polluted as they are non-biodegradable. Therefore, in certain places, several groups of youngsters are encouraging eco-friendly idols made out of sand and used newspapers. They also insist on an eco-friendly way to immerse them by doing it in artificial tanks.

A youth organisation, namely, Youth For Seva, had taken up the task of educating the ill-effects of the use of hand-moulded chemical idols and fiercely promote handmade clay idols. They also conduct workshops for making handmade clay idols and they also provide a list of eco-friendly vendors for the buyers.

Many youngsters also show interest towards getting the images of Ganesha or slogans dedicated to him inked. The craze for tattoos has increased as a symbol of showing their spirituality or make a style statement.

On this occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, let us all promote a sense of oneness and love towards nature!

Edited by _Padfoot_ - 8 years ago

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Mahi

@Mannmohanaa

Trailblazer

+ 3

Posted: 8 years ago

The inclusion of youth has undoubtedly increased the zest in Ganesh festivities radically. Plain rituals and simple idols are now being extensively replaced by extravagantly decked up Pandals & grand events (including dhols and elaborate sthapna preparations).

While the fervour continues to multiply year after year, we cannot ignore the fact that this new perspective of the 10 day long Ganesh Utsav has brought with it the unwanted money matters & stiff competitions. What should've been pure religious sentiments is now reduced to a mere currency game. Ganesh Utsav organising groups indulge crores and crores of rupees, in first elaborately prepping up for festivities and then running a business over the 10 days.

Figures say that Lalbagacha Raja (the #1 Pandal group in Mumbai) earned a whooping 3.2 crore in only the first four days of the Ganeshotsav. By earning, we mean that a part of it is conveniently put into the pocket of the organisers while the rest goes into the budget making of the next year's festival.

The Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai is supposed to earn a minimum of 5.64 crore every year during Ganapati Festivities. Even Pandals in Pune earn in millions, though it's comparatively lesser than Mumbai. But they aren't to be blamed entirely. The public is equally open hearted in giving away offerings to Bappa, a little more than the limit, we say. SUV Car keys & property papers are often found in the 'Daan-petis' of Pandals. It's shocking that our love towards Almighty is depreciating towards gifting expensive luxurious. We don't know how much of it goes to Him but the organisers definitely have a gala time drooling over it. When did He have the need to ride cars or stay in flats?

To add onto the money matters, there's this 'Pandal Competition' that keeps the pressure high on the shoulders of organisers. To outdo the previous year's decoration and to beat the other groups in terms of creativity and earnings is the prime concern. Religious sentiments and the true essence of the festival and invocation of the elephant headed God is sidelined. The number one pandal gets fame, popularity, trophies and eventually money. But one can't assuringly say how much they are devoted in serving Him through the 10 days.

One one hand this prevails but on the other hand, all hope isn't lost. There are still a lot of people who're unconditionally devoted to Ganapati's Pooja and seva by observing fasts and following the rituals to invoke the pure blessings of the Vighnaharta. This, is what that keeps the true meaning of the festival alive.

Thereby wishing y'all a self enlightening and a pious Ganesh Chaturthi!

Edited by .-Amethyst-. - 8 years ago