Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 17: Lord Ganesha's birthday is being celebrated all over India and abroad on Thursday September 17. This annual event meant to celebrate the incarnation of Lord Ganesha, who was breathed into life by Goddess Parvathi, and who is known also with hundreds of other names, brings forth moods of devotees in myriad forms like devotion, gaiety, exhibition of skills, organizing of competitions, having a hearty feast, decorating their houses and public places where the idols of the 'remover of obstacles' is installed.

The 'elephant god' was given life on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi day as per Hindu calendar. Celebrations vary from a day and up to one month in different cities of India, culminating with the immersion of the clay idol of the Lord on the final day. 'Gowri Habba' is celebrated a day before Vinayaka Chaturthi, and is mainly confined to ladies in the family.

Lord Ganesha, the god of auspicious beginnings, has the appetite of an elephant and hence, fruits,coconut, sugarcane, banana, and 'Modak', a delicacy prepared at home, are believed to be relished by Him.

Clay forms of Lord Ganesha are moulded by craftsmen who inherit the art of making them through generations. There are also people who take up this job out of their own interest. The concerned collect clay and begin to make idols two to three months in advance. Of late, there has been an awareness to make nature-friendly idols with natural colours. To be eligible for being worshipped, these idols need to be made in a particular manner, without any cracks anywhere on the body of the idol. These idols are brought in a procession, accompanied by musical instruments and cymbals, to houses or pandals, where puja is offered and 'Prana Pratishta' is done by scholars. Durva or 'bermuda grass blades' and flowers are said to be dear to Lord Ganesha. All family members, including children, have a role to play in these celebrations.

In the city, Lord Ganesha idols are kept for five days in Sangh Niketan and KSRTC. In Mumbai, it is common to keep the idol for ten days till 'Anantha Chaturdhashi' festival, and to immerse the idols in the sea on the 11th after taking them in a joint procession.

As Lord Ganesha is also associated with art, talent, education and wisdom, it is common to see stage performances and competitions including music, discourses, dances, dramas, Yakshagana performance, devotional songs, puppetry, musical nights etc being performed at elaborate pandals set up by organizations and individuals.

It is believed that on Ganesha Chaturthi, one should desist from looking at the moon, because of a curse by the Lord to the moon in one of the episodes, as per which those who look at the moon that day suffer from false charges levelled against them by others.

May Ganesha Chaturthi bring health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone in the country, and may Lord Ganesha bring back smiles on the faces of people in general, and farmers in particular. Ganapathi Bappa Morya!