NEW DELHI: Ganesh Chaturthi is Ganesha's birthday, a Hindu festival celebrated throughout India, and the most elaborate and popular especially in Maharashtra. Among all the Gods, he is worshipped first. Lord Ganesha is also worshipped before starting anything new. Ganesha is the most popular and sought-after of deities in Hindu religion. So because he only can remove all the obstacles in your path. Also known as Ganapathi or Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Kartikeya is his brother. Lord Ganesha has a human body and elephant's head and has four hands and is mounted on a mouse.
Lord Ganesha represents three virtues: Buddhi (wisdom), Siddhi (spirituality) and Riddhi (prosperity). Ganesha himself is the personification of Buddhi. The other two virtues are represented by Goddesses, his consorts.
Anant Chaturdashi coming after ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi is the culmination of Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. The idols bought, installed and worshipped for ten days are offered to water bodies like the rivers or sea on the last day, Anant Chaturdashi. It is called Ganesh Visarjan or immersion. Processions are
taken out. Devotees chant, "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudcha Varshi Lavkar Ya” (come back soon) next year. The act of visarjan or immersion symbolizes the concept of Moksha, or liberation, in Hinduism.
Visarjan dates
One and a half days visarjan - September 18, 2015
Third day visarjan on – September 19
Fourth day visarjan on – September 21
Seven days visarjan on – September 23
11 days visarjan on - September 27 (Anant Chaturthi)
Timings for visarjan (visarjan muhurat timings)
08:01 – 09:31 hrs (Char); 09:31 – 11:00 hrs (Labh); 11:00 – 12:30 hrs (Amrit); 13:59 – 15:28 hrs (Shubh) 18:27 – 19:58 hrs (Shubh) 19:58 – 21:29 hrs (Amrit) 21:29 – 22:59 hrs (Char).
Ganesh Chaturthi is an 11-day festival. Idols (murtis) of Lord Ganesha are bought and celebrated for a day and a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or 11 days depending on ne's tradition, and then immersed.
Lord Ganesh Vedic mantras:
Vakratunda Ganesha Mantra
श्री वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्य कोटी समप्रभा
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्व-कार्येशु सर्वदा॥
Shree Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryeshu Sarvada
Ganesha Shubh Labh Mantra
ॐ श्रीम गम सौभाग्य गणपतये
वर्वर्द सर्वजन्म में वषमान्य नमः॥
Om Shreem Gam Saubhagya Ganpataye
Varvarda Sarvajanma Mein Vashamanya Namah
