Category : Religious
Shri Ganesh Mahotsav is a ten-day Hindu festival celebrated to honour the elephant-headed God Ganesha’s birthday. He is the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
This year, August 25th marks the beginning of this festival which is also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Here are some details about the festival:
The festival begins on Shukla Chaturthi which is the fourth day of the waxing moon period, and ends on the 14th day of the waxing moon period known as Anant Chaturdashi. During the festival, colourful pandals (temporary shrines) are setup and the Lord is worshiped for ten days. Maharashtra is the state known for grand scale Ganesh Chaturthi festivities.
Ganesha is known by 108 different names and is the Lord of arts and sciences and the God of wisdom. He is honoured at the start of any ritual or ceremony as he’s considered the God of beginnings. He’s widely and dearly referred to as Ganapati Bappa.
There are two different versions about Ganesha’s birth. Out of all the stories that are linked with the history of this festival, the most relevant one is associated with his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Goddess Parvati created little Ganesh using the dirt off her body while having a bath and sent him to guard the door while she was bathing. Lord Shiva, who had gone out, returned at that time. Innocently, little Ganesh stopped him from entering. Angry Lord Shiva cut off the head of the little child after a heated argument. Looking at an angered and displeased Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva promised her to give Ganesh a new life. The followers were sent to search for a head; however all they could bring was a head of an elephant. Lord Shiva fixed the elephant’s head on the child and brought him back to life. That’s how he was named Gajanan.
The other legend has it that Ganesha was created by Shiva and Parvati on request of the Devas, to be a vighnakartaa (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas (demonic beings), and a vighnahartaa (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas.
GHS will celebrate this auspicious festival from Friday 25 August till Tuesday 05 September2017. Please check our events calendar for details. https://www.ghspreston.co.uk/calendar/ganesh-utsav/
