Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all across India, especially in Maharashtra. The festival marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. Ganesh festival has always been celebrated to promote oneness and nationalism.
‘Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’ India’s one of the greatest freedom fighter. He transformed Ganesh Chaturthi celebration and gave it a nationalistic flavour. A common idol for all, Lord Ganesha.
Lokmanya Tilak was born in the year 1856 at Chikhalgaon in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. He was famously known as ‘Father of Indian unrest’. To unite Indian’s Lokmanya Tilak choose Ganesh festival as a medium to connect.
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesha using sandalwood paste. Some legend says from dirt on her body. She asked him to guard the door while she took the bath.
As Lord Ganesha was guarding the entrance door, Lord Shiva (husband of Goddess Parvati) returned to their residence. When Ganesha stopped him from entering, an angry Lord Shiva cut off his head in the combat between the two.
When Goddess Parvati realised what had happened, she was heartbroken. Then Lord Shiva promised he would bring baby Ganesha to live. He instructed his followers (ganas) to search for the head of the first creature they would find to replace on Ganesha’s body. They found a baby elephant’s head and Lord Ganesha came back to life.
He is also named leader of the Ganas, Ganpati. Lord Ganesha is considered to be a symbol of wisdom, writing, travel, commerce and good fortune. He is also addressed as Gajanana, Ganesh, that are among his 108 names.
Ganesh festival celebration – during my childhood
I have fond memories of the Ganesh festival celebration. When I was in school, in our village we used to celebrate the 10 days festival by having one common idol for all. The preparation for the festival actually started a month before.
A group of children would come together to plan for the festival which included the collection of donations, arrangements for decoration, arrangement for Dhol & Tasha and most importantly setting up the ‘Play’ based on some novel. The most interesting part used to be the play. They would rehears for a month in our school building and I am witness to so many rehearsals.
On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, the entire village would gather to worship Ganesha and perform Aarti. Every day there would be some programs, either telecast of Ramayana, play (Natak), plays from other village group or movies on VCR.
The most important thing of celebration which I liked was the oneness among the entire village. That was the idea of Lokmanya Tilak that people should come together from all sections of society, irrespective of their religion, caste and status.
Ganesh festival celebration – present day
With time, the Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebration also changed. Now, everyone has his own Ganesha idol. Ek Gav Ek Ganpati (one village one Ganesh idol) concept is nowhere to be found. The oneness is getting lost. The festival celebration has become louder. Loud decoration, loud music, everything is loud about it. DJ (music systems with big decks) are just unbearable during the procession.
Covid-19 and Ganesh Chaturthi Celebration in 2020
This year due to Covid-19 pandemic the celebration was a low key affair. With all the safety precaution we celebrated the festival for 1.5 days.
A day before the Ganesh Chaturthi, our 3 member team from society decorated our clubhouse, unfortunately, we couldn’t make the usual abode for Bappa. We arranged Live Telecast of the event both Sthapana and Visarjan for our residents. Thanks to Google Meets.
It was painful to bid adieu to Ganesha in just 1.5 days. With a promise to make the entire world once again healthy and happy and to return the next year, Bappa returned to his abode.
What kind of digicam is this? That is certainly a really good premium quality.