Everything about Ganesh Chaturthi 2022

Mayank KumarMayank Kumar,TRAVEL TRENDS, INDIA Updated : Aug 31, 2022, 16:00 IST

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Ganesh Chaturthi: Western India’s most vibrant festival

The smell of colour in the air, sounds of drums and dhols waving in bylanes, twinkling lights strung across houses and markets, temples decorated with dazzling diyas, Lord Ganesha’s idols painted in bright hues, and the dessert of the festival (modak) whipped up in almost every household—the glorious Indian festival of Ganesha Chaturthi is all this and much more.

Prominent Ganesha temples to seal the festival for you!

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The ten-day festival

Based on the Hindu calendar, the 10-day Ganesha Chaturthi 2021 festival starts today and will culminate on September 21 with Ganesha Visarjan for the year. It begins with the installation of an idol of Lord Ganesha in most households, and culminates with the procession leading to Ganesha Visarjan (submerging the idol in sea waters). While the crowd is usually humongous, you would appreciate it owing to the sheer energy and thrill that brings in the famous Western India festival of Ganesha Chaturthi.

This year, of course, mass gatherings are banned to prevent any outbreak of COVID-19.

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The festival and its presence

Ganesha Chaturthi, Ganeshotsav, Vinayaka Chaturthi—the festival has multiple names. Although celebrated throughout India, the festival has a heightened presence in the western region of the country (especially in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa). The Mumbai Ganesha Utsav is, of course, the biggest spectacle of all, drawing in lakhs of devotees from across the city and the entire country. The hoots of Ganpati Bappa Moreya take it notches up as well!

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The past and the present of Ganesha Chaturthi

Believed to be first celebrated under the reign of Shivaji Bhonsle (also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj), the Ganesha Chaturthi festival is said to have lost its significance with time, until Lokmanya Tilak popularised it and transformed it from being an annual domestic celebration to a well-known public event.

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A festival for all

Ganesha Chaturthi is when no differences exist, caste, culture, age, this festival brings people closer than ever before. If you happen to visit Maharashtra during the festival, you will know how epic the festival is. It brings together people from all over the state and the neighbouring states as well, immersing themselves in an experience that is wholesome.

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The Indian craftsmanship: creating the idol

Months prior to the Ganesh Utsav, the craftsmen of the country, especially Mumbai, commence the worthy task of creating Ganesha idols using clay, plaster of paris, natural fibre, and even newer methods like recycled paper. The artisans whip up the most impressive and intricately-designed idols, with great attention to detail (from the shape and size, to ornaments and an assortment of hues). Changing times have, of course, delivered home the need to use organically-made idols with zero impact on ecology when the visarjan takes place.

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Mumbai in the hues of its most vibrant festival

From some opulent pandals (temporary shrines) and enigmatic performances to spirited street processions, the city of Mumbai livens up even more during the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi Utsav. From Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Samiti Mandal at Wadala to Lalbaughcha Raja, there are multiple celebrations in almost every street of Mumbai.

Photo by: Satish Krishnamurthy, Creative Commons Attribution Licence

The festival sweetener

Modak, the rice flour dumplings are prepared and offered as prasaad, during the Ganesh Utsav, and there is no missing these.

Grab a boxful (or more) if you can have a sweet tooth. More so, because it is time to go Ganpati Bappa Moreya! When you think of Ganesha Utsav, there is no stopping mentions of the astonishing variety of modaks that Mumbai has for grabs! From its traditional versions to the more hip flavours (imagine chocolate modaks), this is something to dig into. Go, gorge.