Know about Ganesh Chathurthi Clayton & Melbourne

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi is one of the most important festivals celebrated in India. Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and his birthday is celebrated as a festival. He is the symbol of prosperity, wisdom and good fortune.

This festival is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of Hindu month of Bhadra which generally falls in the months of August and September. This is a festival where people bring mud idol of Lord Ganesha to their home and worship it and with musical and colorful procession submerged in water according to traditions. This year Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on September 2nd that is on Monday.

Stories behind Vinayaka Chavithi

On this auspicious day, people install beautifully handcrafted idols in their homes and in public and Prana Pratishtha is performed to invoke the power of the deity into the idol, followed by a 16-step ritual known as Shodashopachara Puja. During this ritual various offering like sweets, flowers and coconuts made to Lord Ganesh idol. According to tradition, this festival is performed on midday called Madhyahna. Because it is believed that Lord Ganesha is born at that time.

There are so many stories associated with this festival. On this day according to the tradition, one should not look at the moon. If you look you will be cursed as a thief and dishonored by the society unless you do the pooja and have the prasadam and take Akshintha on your head after the pooja. 

According to the stories, Lord Krishna face this situation where he was blamed for the theft of Samanthakamani. Sage Narada explained that Lord Krishna Must have seen the moon on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi and did not performed the pooja of Lord Ganesha. Furthermore, whoever looks moon on that day will be cursed.

There is a story behind not seeing the moon on that day. One day lord Ganesha was going to Kailash where his parents living and, in the way, he slipped and fell down. Moon was watching this a laughed at Lord Ganesha. Looking at moons behavior Goddess Parvathi cursed moon saying “how dare you to laugh at my son’s situation, hear after whoever looks at you will be cursed and will face all the problems and will never be happy”. Moon got terrified and begged Goddess Parvathi for forgiveness, looking at moons suffering goddess Parvathi told a way to avoid this as “whoever worships Lord Ganesha on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi and place akshintha on their head they will not face any trouble even by looking at the moon”. 

The idol of Lord Ganesha is worshiped every day and Arthi is given in the evening according to tradition. On the Anant Chaturdasi the idol is immersed in water.

Significance of Anant Chaturdasi

In Sanskrit, Anant refers to the eternal or infinite energy of immortality. This day is actually devoted to Lord Anant who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Chaturdasi means ‘Fourteenth’. So, in this case, the occasion falls on the 14th day of the bright half of the moon during the month of Bhadrapada according to Hindu calendar.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Ganesh

Considering the environmental conditions people are diverting towards eco- friendly idols. They are made of paper pulp, natural color, and natural glue. The benefits of these idols are the usage of Plaster of Paris is reduced which is non-biodegradable and affecting the aquatic life. To protect our planet experts are encouraging people to use eco-friendly Ganesh idols.

Religious beliefs are followed considering nature also and below are the importance of using the eco-friendly idols.

Save our water resources.

As said earlier the idol is immersed in water after the ritual. Idols made of plaster of Paris are non-biodegradable and also kills the aquatic life and increasing acid content in water. So, Eco-friendly Ganesh idol is the best alternative.

Protect human health

Not only aquatic life POP also destroys human life as well. The water purity will be at stake as the POP and artificial color stored in water will be available for humans to drink. Which affects health.

Avoid food poison

If you are a non-veg lover then you should be cautious about having fish after this festival. The POP and artificial color in water will go into fish and from there to your stomach.

All that glitter is not gold 

As the proverb says all that glitter is not gold is true in the glittering Ganesh idols. To make them look attractive some glitters and metal pieces are added which are harmful if they come in contact with the human body. Eco-friendly Ganesh idols do not have any of these things.

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