Anil Nagpal
(International Photo & Video Journalist-Country and Politics)
Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi (Vināyaka Chaturthī) is the Hindu festival that reveres god Ganesha. A ten-day festival, it starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, which typically falls in Gregorian months of August or September. The festival is marked with installation of Ganesha clay idols privately in homes, or publicly on elaborate pandals (temporary stage). Observations include chanting of Vedic hymns and Hindu texts such as Ganapati Upanishad, prayers and vrata (fasting). Offerings and prasada from the daily prayers that is distributed from the pandal to the community include sweets such as modaka believed to be a favorite of the elephant-headed deity. The festival ends on the tenth day after start, wherein the idol is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in nearby water body such as a river or ocean, thereafter the clay idol dissolves and Ganesha is believed to return to Mount Kailash to Parvati and Shiva.
With the blessings of Lord Ganesha Anil Nagpal (Executive Secretary- Newspaper Association of India) and Amit kubba (Member- Newspaper Association of India) did this Eco Friendly Visarjan and at Gopala Ghat Delhi with their family members and friends.
The festival celebrates Lord Ganesha as the God of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles and is observed throughout India, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh,[1][7] and is usually celebrated privately at home in states of Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Ganesha, also known as the God of success has been blessing his devotees with prosperity and fortune since time immemorial. He is also the Lord who destroys obstacles from people’s life. this is the reason why Ganesha is worshipped before beginning any new thing in life.
Devotees of Lord Ganesha usually places his idol at homes. However, most people are not aware the places where if Ganesha’s idol is placed, brings happiness and success along with wealth. If you are one of those who do not know the right places in your house to place Ganesha’s idol, go through the slide show to know where the Lord should be placed in your home based on Vastu tips.
Public preparations for the festivities begin months in advance. Local Mandapa or Pandal‘s are usually funded either from donations by local residents or hosted by businesses or community organizations. The making of the Murti in Maharashtra usually begins with “Padya pooja” or worshipping the feet of Lord Ganesh. The Murti’s are brought to “pandals” on the day or a day before the festival begins. The pandals have elaborate decoration and lighting.
At home, the festival preparation includes purchases such as puja items or accessories a few days in advance and booking the ganesh murti as early as a month beforehand (from local artisans). The murti is brought home either a day before or on the day of the ganesh chaturthi itself. Families decorate a small, clean portion of the house with flowers and other colourful items before installing the idol. When the Murti is installed, it and its shrine are decorated with flowers and other materials. On the day of the festival, The ceremonial installation of the clay murti (idol) is done along with chans of holy mantras and pooja including bhajans during a certain auspicious period of the day .
In preparation for the festival, artisans create clay models of Ganesha for sale. The Murti’s range in size from 3⁄4 inch (1.9 cm) for homes to over 70 ft (21 m) for large community celebrations. The date for the festival is usually decided by the presence of Chaturthi Thithi. The festival is held during “Bhadrapada Madyahanaa Purvabaddha”. If the chaturthi thiti begins at night on previous day and gets over by morning on next day then the next day is observed as vinayaka chaturthi. In the consecration ceremony, a priest performs a Prana Pratishtha to invite Ganesha like a guest. This is followed by the 16-step Shodashopachara ritual, (Sanskrit: Shodash, 16; Upachara, process) during which coconut, jaggery, modaks, durva grass and red hibiscus flowers are offered to the idol. Depending on the region and timezone, the ceremony commences with hymns from the Rigveda, the Ganapati Atharvashirsa, the Upanishads, and the Ganesha stotra (prayer) from the Narada Purana are chanted. In Maharashtra, Aartisare performed with friends and family, typically in the morning and evening. In India, Ganesha Chaturthi is primarily celebrated at home and in public by local community groups in the central and western states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Eastern states of Odisha and Tamil Nadu.
On this Occasion Vipin Gaur, General Secretary of Newspapers Association of India also prayed for well being of all the countrymen. He sent his best wishes to all media workers.
