Ganesh Chaturthi is observed across India as the birthday of Ganesha. This ‘God of Wisdom and Intelligence’ is believed to remove obstacles and start new things in lives. People from all states, including Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, celebrate the day with great pomp. It starts in the Hindu month Bhadrapada (August -September) and ends on Anant Chaturdashi.
Ganesh Chaturthi ends with the ritual of ‘Ganesh Visarjan.’ In this procession, people collect all sizes of Ganesha idols, from huge to small, place them all in a grand vehicle, and submerge them in the sea. Thousands of people take part in Ganesh Visarjan, accompanied by singing and dancing. Many travellers worldwide visit India to watch the colorful Ganesh Chaturthi. Every state in India celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi according to their customs. Here, we take a look at how Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in various cities in India.
Maharashtra
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the main festivals celebrated all over Maharashtra enthusiastically. Devotees keep idols of Ganesha in their houses. Sarvajanik Ganpati Mandals install roadside pandals (tents) and place huge idols.
Mumbai and Pune are the best places to see the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi. Devotees’ voices of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya’ echo throughout the cities. Thousands of devotees and Bollywood stars visit Mumbai’s famous Siddhivinayak Temple.
The Shreemant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganpati Mandir, Pune, bears great historical significance. It is famous for its Poojas, Modaks, and sweets.
Maharashtra is famous for huge processions accompanied by Dhol-Tasha, a musical event during Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha idols are immersed in nearby rivers or seas on the last day of the Ganesha festival.
Goa
Goans celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in the name of Chovoth. The town of Mapusa has famous temples in Ganeshpuri and Khandola. In the Marcela village, one can find several Hindu temples. People install idols of Ganesha at homes in the matoli set up, a traditional decoration of Goa. They perform Bhajans, Poojas, and finally end with Aartis. They distribute sweets and savories to their neighbours, families, and friends. Enjoy the day with special vegetarian meals. At the day’s end, they immerse Ganesha idols in the seawater.
Tamil Nadu
Devotees of Tamilnadu celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with great zeal. They wake up early, bathe, and buy Pillayar clay idols. Inviting him with Aarti, they keep him in their decorated Pooja rooms. People offer him Modak, sundal, sweets, and fruits. Families perform Poojas, recite mantras, and finally culminate with Aartis. Then, distribute the sweets and food to all.
They offer Ganesha with sweets and perform Poojas for three continuous days. On the third day, they carry his idol from houses and submerge in nearby water bodies. During the auspicious day, devotees visit the nearby Ganesha
Temples.
Temples and associations also set pandals and keep Ganesha idols for the public to offer prayers. Finally, all the huge idols are submerged in seawater with great devotion in a grand procession.
Kerala
Keralites celebrate ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ during Chingam masam (month). Chingam is the first month of the year in the Malayalam Calendar. As this calendar differs from others, the festival might occur a month before other states.
There is a famous Ganapati temple in the East Fort, Thiruvananthapuram. It attracts hordes of devotees on this auspicious day, and they firmly believe that Ganesha in the temple can grant their wishes. The notable part of the celebration is the procession from here to the Shankumugham beach. People with great enthusiasm immerse the idols. All idols immersed in the beach are made with clay and milk, which are eco-friendly to the environment.
Karnataka
Karnataka celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi in different traditional and ritualistic ways. Here, people call it Ganesh Habba. They offer prayers to Gauri, the mother of Ganesha. They offer sweets like Modak, Gojju, and Payasam to the deity and distribute them to all after Aartis. People pray and offer their respects to Ganesh and Gauri.
Andhra Pradesh
People in Andhra Pradesh commemorate Ganesha Chaturthi as other South Indian states. Devotees flock to the Khairatabad idol, one of the tallest Ganesha idols installed for Ganesha Chaturthi in Hyderabad. The festival culminates by immersing this gorgeous idol in the Hussain Sagar Lake.
