April 29, 2023

Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is revered as the god of wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in some regions of India.

The festival usually falls in the month of Bhadrapada (August or September) of the Hindu calendar and is observed for 10 days, culminating with the immersion of Ganesha idols in water bodies like lakes, rivers, and oceans.

During the festival, people install Ganesha idols in their homes and public pandals (temporary structures) and perform various rituals and puja (worship) ceremonies to seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. The celebrations include singing bhajans (devotional songs), offering sweets and fruits as prasad (blessed food), and participating in cultural events like dances and dramas.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, among others. The festival has also gained popularity outside of India, with many cities around the world hosting their own celebrations, especially in countries with a significant Indian diaspora population.