Ganesh Chaturthi 2021: Significance, puja vidhi and foods

 

The festive season has begun and it’s time to welcome Lord Ganesha with all the festive fervour. From the cheers of Ganapati Bappa Morya to decorated pandals to lit up places of worship to preparation of modak in every household, it’s that time of year when devotees leave no stone unturned to welcome Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings.

This year Ganesh Chaturthi will be starting on 10th September and will continue till 21st September 2021. This 10-day festival is celebrated in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

Significance and Muhurat

 It is believed that in these 10 days Lord Ganesha graces the earth and brings happiness, wisdom and prosperity for his devotees. Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha, which is celebrated as per the Hindu calendar in the Bhadrapada month.

The shubh muhurat will begin from 12.17 am to 10 pm on 10 September. In fact, the best time to begin the puja will start from 11.03 am to 01.33 pm on 10 September.

Puja Vidhi

 Interestingly, every region in India has a unique way of celebrating this festival. However the basic rituals remain the same such as cleaning the place of worship, decorating the mandir or place of worship with flowers and lights, placing the idol of Lord Ganesha, preparing some delicious bhog and singing hymns and performing arti are some of the simple ways of seeking the blessings of the almighty.

How to place the idol 

Devotees clean and decorate the place of worship, which is followed by placing the idol of Lord Ganesha on a red cloth. Then in front of the idol a water pot, coconut, cardamom, ‘panchamrit’, ‘roli’, ‘akshat’, and ‘laung’ are arranged beautifully for the rituals. Apart from that there are other essentials of this puja that include ‘supari’, ‘Kalavajaneoo’, ‘Chandi ka vark’, ‘ghee’, ‘kapur’, ‘panchmeva’, ‘gangajal’, ‘chaukee’ and haldi and kumkum for the tikka.

Foods prepared for Ganesh Chaturthi

 Lord Ganesha’s love for good food is mentioned even in the books of mythology. It is believed that Lord Ganpati loved Modaks and Ladoos, this is the reason why celebration of this festival is incomplete without sweet delights. There are several other sweet delicacies that are prepared and offered as a bhog to the deity such as Kharvas, Srikhand, Basundi, Kheer, Rabri, Halwa.

Ganesh Visarjan 

On the 10th day of Ganesh Chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi is observed, it is the day when devotees sing, dance and come together to bid farewell to the Lord Ganesha. The devotees gather up and hold huge processions for Ganesh Visarjan.