Ganesh Chaturthi in 2021 will be celebrated on 10th September on Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapad month according to the Hindu calendar.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of India’s most popular festivals. It is a 10-day event, celebrated from the fourth day of the Bhadrapad month (Shukla Paksha). The festival ends on Anant Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the month. Originally it was celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and a few other states, but over the last few decades, its popularity spread to many other states in India. The festival is now celebrated across India with much fanfare, music, dancing, and feasting. This year Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the 10th of September.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2021: Date and Time
This year in 2021 Chaturthi Tithi begins at 12:18 on 10th September and ends on the same day at 09:57.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2021: Shubh Muhurat
The Madhyahan Puja Muhurat is at 11:03 on 10th September.
Ganpati Visarjan is done on Sunday, 19th September 2021
Ganesh Chaturthi: How the festival is celebrated
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in public places and in homes. Ganesh Temples are lit up and decorated with flowers and flags. Special Pujas and ceremonies are conducted for all ten days. Preparations for the festival begin much before the actual day. Funds are collected by Puja Samitis from locals, business houses, and shops.
The Murti Makers start making different types of Murtis – small to large to gigantic months before the event. One or two days before the date the Murtis are brought to the puja place. On day one of the festival, the Murtis are ceremoniously established on stages built for the purpose. The entire area is covered by tents known as ‘Pandals’ and decorated in every imaginable way.
In homes, a particular corner or area is cordoned off and decked up and the Murti established. The size of the Murtis ranges from a tiny 1 inch to a Giant 70 feet statue. This is done in the ‘Madhyahan’ time of the day with elaborate pujas and Shodashopachara Ganpati Puja (16 step Puja). Items such as Durwa grass, Modak Laddoos, flowers, coconut, Jaggery, etc are offered to Lord Ganesh. After that for ten days – morning and evening, pujas and aartis are done. This is followed by the singing of bhajans and the reading of religious texts.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2021: Significance and History
How Ganesh Chaturthi started?
It is believed that Lord Ganesh was born on the fourth day of Bhadrapad (Shukla Paksha) in the Madhyahan (Mid-Day) part of the day. It is not clearly known when this festival first started. From early records, it is known that it was celebrated during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the 17th century CE. The Peshwas were devotees of Lord Ganesh, who started public celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune in the 18th century. In course of time, with the coming of the British, the festival lost state support and faded away.
Revival by Lokmanya Tilak
In the 1890s, the British banned public gatherings of more than 20 people for political reasons. To get around this law and to uplift public sentiment and mood, Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived this festival. The first ‘Sarvajanik’ (For All) Murti of Lord Ganesh was established in Pune by Bhausaheb Lakshman Javale with full support from Lokmanya Tilak. This festival was for all with no barriers of caste and creed. In the next year, Lokmanya Tilak extended this celebration to various locations in the Bombay Presidency. It soon spread to all parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and other states.
Ganesh Visarjan
On the tenth day, which is also known as Anant Chaturdashi, the Murti of Lord Ganesh is taken out with lots of fanfare, loud music, chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ and immersed in a river, pond, sea, or any other water body. This is known as Visarjan. Huge crowds of devotees in a joyous mood follow the boisterous procession throwing dry colors on each other.
It is believed Lord Ganesh returns to Mount Kailash to join his father and mother – Lord Shiva and Parvati Mata on this day after the immersion. Lord Ganesha removes all hurdles and obstacles from one’s life and hence is known as Vighnaharta. Devotees believe they will also have a new beginning after the immersion, free from obstacles and problems.
