FrançaisGanesh Chaturthi is one of the most important Hindu festival celebrated as the birthday of the Lord of wisdom and prosperity – Lord Ganesha. People worship Lord Ganesha and seek his divine blessings to fulfil their desires and to get rid of the problems in their lives.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in Late August or early September, depending on the cycle of the moon. The festival celebrations continue for next ten days.
Preparations for this sacred festival begin months in advance and on the actual day of the festival beautifully crafted statutes of Ganesha is placed on raised platforms in homes or in decorated outdoor podiums for people to view and pay their homage. Temples devoted to Lord Ganesha also organize special events and prayers. Those who have a Ganesha statue in their home treat and care for him as a much loved guest.
On the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi the statues of Ganesha are taken through the streets, accompanied with dancing and the sound of exciting drum-beats, devotional songs and exploding firecrackers, and then immersed in nearby lakes or river or sea.
Though the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is observed all over India, it is celebrated most grandly in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. Mumbai is one of the best places to experience the festival where thousands of followers visit the temple to join in prayers & pay their respects to the god in the festival.