Pandals, Dandiya and Modak : Celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi

by Shruti Sharma Content Curator

One of the biggest festivals of India, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with much vigour and enthusiasm all across India. Regardless of the city/town you live in, you will find the freshly painted idols of Lord Ganesha everywhere. Celebrated to honour Lord Ganesha, Ganesh Chaturthi also marks his birthday. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha was born on ‘Shukla Chaturthi’.

Also known as ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’, Ganesh Chaturthi is majorly celebrated in the Indian states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka etc. The capital city of India, Delhi, also witnesses the grand celebration of the occasion. Whether you are a permanent resident of the city or you are traveller staying at one of the hotels in Delhi, you must not miss Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at any cost.

About Lord Ganesha

The pertinence of Lord Ganesha is based on several legends and stories. He is one among the most popular gods in the Hindu assemblage. Known for his elephant-head, he was blessed with great intellect.

The festival of Ganesha Chaturthi first found prominence during Maratha Empire when Chhatrapati Shivaji was ruling the state. The people who brought this festival to public spaces and changed its identity from a private festival to a public one were Bhausaheb Laxman Javale and Lokmanya Tilak. When this happened, people belonging to any sect or religion began celebrating it to show the unison of India against colonial rule.

Rituals and Food

Indian festivals are mostly about rituals and food and Ganesh Chaturthi is no exception. From artisans making idols and statues of Lord Ganesha months before the festival commences to worshippers bringing home the clay statues of Lord Ganesha home, from chanting morning and evening prayers dedicated to Lord Ganesha to practicing ‘Pranapratisshtha’, this ten-day long festival is nothing but eventful.

One of the most famous sweet dishes prepared during Ganesh Chaturthi is modak. According to Hindu mythology, modak was Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet dish. Generally prepared using rice or wheat, it is mainly filled with grated coconut, jaggery, and dried fruits among other things.

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi

Large idols of Lord Ganesha are placed under mandaps at various places in the city/town. A large number of tourists/travellers in a particular city also take part in the celebrations. Even some of the best business hotels in New Delhi organise their own private celebrations, giving a perfect chance to the tourists to witness the grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi. After 10 days of celebration, idols of Lord Ganesha are taken for Ganesha Visarjan. This is how the festival ends.