People across the world come together through festivals. They’re all about bonding, love, indulgent festive treats and some ‘us’ time. However, there’s something about Ganesh Chaturthi that makes the connection even stronger.
One of the most significant festivals celebrated in India, mainly, Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated in other parts of the country with the same fervour over the last few years. Here’s why it’s so special for us…
Rewind: How Ganesh Chaturthi brought people together
For the longest time, the festival was mostly a private, household affair. However, in 1893, as a means to bring people from all walks of life, caste, and creed together, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak organized Ganesh Utsav in Pune. The Britishers banned public and political gatherings at that time. Over a century-old tradition, the revelries and mass participation was mainly a call to action against the Colonial Rule. At that time, it was an idol, a common idea of God that brought people together and bridged the gap during those 10 days of festivity.
Just the way Ganesh Chaturthi brings people together, a SaffronStays Home is where families of all sorts bond. Your immediate family, your work fam, your friends who mean more than family or just about anyone who makes you feel ‘at home’.
Only a couple of days to go until the most awaited festival of Ganesh Chaturthi and the entire state of Goa seems to have descended into a frenetic whirl.
Chaturthi or Chovoth (as it is commonly known in Goa) commemorates the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The beloved elephant-headed God is instantly recognisable by his generous belly, curved trunk and the sweet in his palm. Celebrations commence on the fourth day of the Bhadrapada month, corresponding to August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
This festival is always a place of unrestrained joy. Most people visit their ancestral homes to come together as a family and take part in the festivities. Celebrations go on for anywhere between two to 21 days. Local artisans spend months painstakingly adding intricate details to the ‘murti’ A priest then offers prayers and invokes ‘life’ into the clay idol before placing it under a matov. This colourful pandal covered in branches of mango, betel-nut, coconut, and bananas is enough to rival any gardener’s paradise. Traditional puja and aarti are performed twice a day and gifts in the form of betel nuts, coconut, mango leaves and varieties of seasonal fruits are offered up to the idol. The women observe a fast as a mark of sacrifice.
Music fills the air and festive beats from the ghumat, cymbals, and traditional drum lift the spirits. They sing hymns, chant mantras and conduct aartis every day. This is a way of showing the Lord Ganesha a respectful time during his visit to each home.
Food and Frolic
But the real star is the food. These delicacies are capable of making one’s mouth water. There’s the ‘pachpalyachi bhaji’ which is a mouthwatering amalgamation of five different leafy vegetables found in abundance during this period. Sweet dishes, particularly modak, known to be Ganesha’s favourite, laddoos and neuvryo are also a major part of the celebration.
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi holds a special significance in Mapusa, famous for its Temples at Ganeshpuri and Khandola. The temple town of Marcela in Ponda also witnesses a huge rush of visitors during Chaturthi season. The reason – the unique and creative Ganesha idols made by local artists.
On the last day, a parade ringing with the sound of drums and chants of ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ makes its way down the streets to the nearest water body. The celebration goes on late into the night with everyone dancing like they’ve forgotten how to stand still. The idol is then immersed into the water from where it is believed Ganesha returns back to his parents – Shiva and Parvati at Mount Kailasha.
As families spread far and wide on account of work, Ganesh Chaturthi becomes an important way to bring them back to their roots. It is a time to celebrate being alive, celebrate the wonders of creation and be one with the community. Since people from other communities also take the opportunity to get away together, SaffronStays offers vacation rental homes so that travelers can be a part of these festivities and spend some quality time with one another.
For bookings contact: book@saffronstays.com | (+91) 8424 040 040
SaffronStays wishes all its patrons a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
This Ganesh Chaturthi, if you are travelling to any of these cities, make sure you visit the most famous Ganesh Temple in the respective cities and bring back home blessings from the beloved Lord Ganesh.
#01 Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
The Siddhivinayak Mandir is evolved from a small, tiny place of worship to the Grand Temple that stands today. Siddhivinayak is well known as “Navasacha Ganapati” or “Navasala Pavanara Ganapati” (‘Ganapati bestows whenever humbly genuinely prayed a wish’ in Marathi) among devotees.
Out of the numerous monuments that feature in the must see list of anyone visiting Hampi, a most sought after heritage sites in Karnataka, probably the most endearing is the Parvati Ganesha. A 16 ft Ganesha sitting in a mandapa that is typical of the Vijayanagara style of architecture.
Located in Ranthambore fort of Rajasthan state of India, is a unique temple of Trinetra Ganesha, the three-eyed god. An oldest temple of Lord Ganesha in Rajasthan that comprises of his whole family all together at one place. Speaking of “Pratham Ganesha” in Hindu religion, it is believed to be the Trinetra Ganesha of Ranthambhore. And as per folklore, people send their wedding invites here. The first wedding invite sent here was Lord Krishna and Rukmini’s marriage, roughly dating the temple to 6500 years!
A small temple in the middle of road, but don’t misjudge its importance since this is no ordinary temple. Also known as Sidda Ganpati, the temple has a rare standing Ganesha, 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and two-handed. The history says that this temple dates back to centuries even before Ramayana took place.
Nestled in the heavenly lap of nature by the dancing sand dunes of the pristine beaches of the Konkan coast of Maharashtra is a nearly 400 year old ancient Swayambhu Ganpati Temple (Swayambhu means a self-originated idol, Ganapati) – Ganpatipule.
In a land synonymous with Buddhism, a shrine to the elephant God is rare. Located 7km from town on the Gangtok-Nathula Road and perched at 6,500 ft on a hill near the TV tower, Sikkim’s Ganesh Tok temple is fascinating. Like the Hanuman Tok shrine but much smaller, Ganesh Tok offers a scenic view of Raj Bhavan, Gangtok town and Mount Khangchendzonga. Space inside the temple is so cramped that devotees have to creep in on all fours to have darshan of Lord Ganesha.
Dagadusheth Ganapati is the most famous Ganesha Temple in Pune, and as the deity has a beautiful appearance, it is the calender image mostly used when Ganesha adorns the walls.
#08 The Shri Gopal Ganapati Temple, Fermagude, Goa
This temple of Ganesha is situated in Fermagude, in Ponda at about 26 kms from Panjim. Hundreds of years ago a stone idol of Ganesha was discovered by herdsmen while grazing the cattle. The idol was covered with Silver alloy in 1966 by the then Chief Minister of Goa.
#09 Madhur Maha Ganapathi Temple, Kasaragod (Kerala)
Located on the banks of the Madhuvahini River 8km northeast of Kasaragod, the spectacular Madhur temple was built in 10th century by the Mypadi Rajas of Kumbla. The temple well’s water has no frogs or fish, tastes good and is said to possess medicinal and curative properties.
