Revered as the birthday of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and knowledge, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of India. According to mythology, Ganesha was created by Parvati, the consort of Shiva. When Shiva severed Ganesha’s head in a fit of rage, the goddess was heartbroken. She then demanded that Shiva, her husband, bring him back to life. Shiva replaced his severed head with that of an elephant and brought Ganesha back to life.
Spanning a 10-day period, this festival has been celebrated since medieval times with great fervour and splendor. The scale of celebrations is particularly huge in Maharashtra, where this is perhaps the biggest festival of the year. The great Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji himself is said to have started this festival as a public event to promote culture and unity among his people who were divided by caste. It was revived by the nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread the message of freedom during the country’s struggle for independence in the late 19th century. This festival, therefore, not only represents faith and culture but is also symbolic of India’s rich history.
The best place to experience the opulence of this festival is Mumbai, without a doubt. Celebrations are taken to a whole new level here. Preparations begin almost a month in advance. The puja begins with the installation of beautifully carved colourful statues of Ganesha in all shapes and sizes. A ritual called the Pranpratishtha Puja is then performed – ‘pranpratishtha’ literally translates to ‘life established’, so this puja is meant to invite the divine presence of the deity into the statue. Prayers are offered for all the 10 days; music, dance, drama and all kinds of cultural events take place all over Mumbai. Each and every street of Mumbai comes alive during these celebrations.
Ganesha, or Ganpati, is offered sweets, the main one being modak, considered to be his favourite sweet. Flowers, rice, coconut, jaggery and coins are also offered. On the last day of the festival, Ananta Chaturdashi, huge processions carrying the idol walk through the streets to take it for immersion to a river or the sea. The air resonates with the chant of “Ganpati Bappa Moraya”, requesting the deity to take away the pains and sorrows of life and also to come back soon the next year.
Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated with great zeal in other states such as Goa (it is one of the most important festivals for Konkani people), Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The information
Experience Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai
Siddhivinayak Temple: Millions of devotees visit the Siddhivinayak Temple that is dedicated to Ganesha during these 10 days. More than 100,000 idols of Ganesha are displayed all around the city in beautiful mandals and the streets buzz with hymns and chants.
Where: Siddhivinayak Temple is in Prabhadevi, Mumbai (www.siddhivinayak.org)
Government tours: There are special tours organised by the Maharashtra Tourism Board by air-conditioned buses to visit four of the most important Ganesh mandals, namely Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbaicha Raja, Keshavji Naik Chaal Sarvajani Ganeshutsav Mandal (one of the oldest in Mumbai, established in 1893 by Lokmanya Tilak) and the Andhericha Raja, and also the Siddhivinayak Temple . The best part of these tours is that one can avoid the pain of standing in a queue for hours.
Dates: September 3 and 4, 2014
Time and place: 7.40am from Pritam Hotel in Dadar
Cost: Rs1,151 per person. Free for children under three years of age. The price includes breakfast, tea, and an afternoon meal.
Tel: (022) 24300413/22845678/22845678.
Further information: SMSGanesh Darshan Yatra to 8879222018/13.
Private tours: These are also available for a more intimate feel of the festival. You can be a part of these private celebrations on Breakaway’s ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya: The Spirit Behind Mumbai’s Favourite God’ tour.
Dates: Daily from August 30 to September 7, 2014
Time: 10am to 5pm
Cost: Rs 3,000 per person for a group of two to four people (without a car). Rs 4,500 for a single person (without a car). A traditional lunch and snacks are included.
Tel: +91 9310007855; email: bindu@break-away.in
Immersion: There are a few main locations in Mumbai for immersion of the Ganesha statues. If you want to see the largest and most famous Ganesha statues, go to Girgaum (Girgaon) Chowpatty on Marine Drive in south Mumbai. Juhu Beach in Mumbai’s western suburbs is another popular place of immersion. Versova beach is another optio.
(With inputs from Sanchita Kalra)