India.com wishes you a Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Today is a very auspicious day for millions of Indians across the world and also for their site, India.com. On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi, as an orange sun peeps out from under the horizon line spraying soft, warm rays, India.com turns a week old.

Ganesha Chaturthi is the day on which Lord Ganesha bequeaths his presence on earth for all his devotees. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, it is celebrated for it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

The origin of Ganesh Chaturthi according to Holy Scriptures is very interesting. Lord Shiva was away at a war, his wife Pavarti, wanted to bathe. Having no-one to guard the door to her house, she conceived of the idea of creating a son who could guard her. Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood paste that she used for her bath and breathed life into the figure. She then set him to stand guard at her door and instructed him not to let anyone enter.

Lord Shiva in the meantime returned from the battle… but since Ganesha did not know him, he stopped Shiva from entering Parvati's chamber. Shiva, enraged by Ganesh’s impertinence, drew his sword and cut off Ganesha's head. Pavarti emerged to find Ganesha decapitated and flew into a rage. She took on the form of the Goddess Kali and threatened destruction to the three worlds of Heaven, Earth and the subterranean earth.

Seeing her in this mood, the other Gods became terrified and Shiva, in an attempt to mollify Parvati, sent out his ganas, to bring the head of the first living being with his head towards the north (the auspicious direction associated with wisdom). The first living thing they came across was an elephant, and they brought its head back to Shiva who placed it on the trunk of Parvati's son and breathed life into him. Parvati, overjoyed, embraced her son, the elephant-headed boy whom Shiva named Ganesha or Ganapati, the lord of his ganas.

Interestingly this festival was not celebrated publicly earlier and was a simple family affair among Hindus. This trend continued throughout the centuries until 1893 when Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian nationalist, social reformer and freedom fighter reshaped the annual Ganesh festival into a grand public event. Tilak chose Ganesha as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule because of his wide appeal as "the god for Everyman".

The preparation for Ganesh Chaturthi starts 2 months before the auspicious day as life-like clay models of Lord Ganesha varying from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet that are made by skilled artisans are sold. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (blades of grass) and red flowers are offered during the puja.

This cheerful festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi. On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a procession amid much singing and fanfare to be immersed in a river or a sea; this symbolizes a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of his devotees.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi, everyone!

- Team India.com