Go and Celebrate An Eco-Friendly Ganesh Chaturthi

August 21, 2020 puja-user

With Ganesh Chaturthi almost here, let us become a bit more conscious about the environment and go eco friendly. Read this blog to know more.

One of the most revered festivals in India is Ganesh Chaturthi. Everyone keeps waiting for Ganesh Chaturthi throughout the year. Devotees get beautiful idols of Lord Ganesha on this day and worship him. A priest usually does the puja. You can easily find not pandits for Ganesh Puja in Delhi. They will help you do all the rituals without any mistakes. But, these Ganesh idols are generally made up of items that are very harmful to the environment like plaster of Paris. When the festivities get over and we submerge the idol into the water, it harms the aquatic environment to a great extent. This is also one of the major reasons for water pollution. It is high time, we become a little bit more careful about the environment. This year, let us pledge to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in an eco-friendly way.

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The Most Important Leaves Required for Ganesh Chaturthi Puja

August 14, 2020 puja-user

With Ganesh Chaturthi almost around the corner, we will talk about some of the most important leaves that are needed for the Puja. Read to know more.

One of the greatest festivals- Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner. This festival commemorates the nascency of Ganpati Ji. Another name for Ganesh Chaturthi is Vinayaka Chavithi. Every year it falls on Shukla Chaturthi in Bhadra month which is somewhere around August-September. Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations begin by doing sthapna of Ganesh idols at our homes and worshipping it with pooja items. Another name for Ganesh is Vinayaka. According to legends and mythologies, people also consider him as Vigna Harta. This means he can remove all obstacles from your life. He is also known to impart wisdom to his devotees.

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Things Devotee Should Know about Ganesha Chaturthi and Puja Vidhi

September 17, 2015 puja-user

Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is a sacred Hindu festival celebrated as birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and Lord Ganesha is believed as the figure of wisdom, prosperity and good luck. During Shukla Paksha the chaturthi after Poornima (full moon) is celebrated as Vinayaka Chaturthi.

This year Ganesh Chaturthi will take place on 7 September 2024. Chaturthi Tithi begins at 03:01 PM on 6th September, and it will end at 05:37 PM on 7th September, 2024.

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is considered very auspicious for Hindus all over India and there is a strong belief that, Lord Ganesha takes away all the obstructions and difficulties from our lives.

While organizing Ganesha puja at home and observing a fast, devotee should maintain few things. Read below to know the particulars.

Devotees should observe fast from sunrise on this day, worship the sculpted figure of Ganesha, and finish the puja on the Chaturthi evening.

Fasting is observed when Chaturthi Tithi exists during midday. As fasting for Vinayaka Chaturthi depends on sunrise and sunset timings, one might has to observe fast on Tritiya Tithi, one day before Chaturthi Tithi.

Depending on Chaturthi Tithi, sighting of moon might be prohibited for two following days. According to Vedic tradition, while Chaturthi Tithi exists, moonrise or moonset should not be viewed by devotee(s).

Arrange these essential ingredients before the puja :-

Lord Ganesha idol/murti, plantain leaf (kela patta), one metallic plate, 2- 3 cups rice for enunciating lord’s turmeric vigraha (optional), ghanta (bell), haldi (turmeric), kumkum (vermilion), akshata, flowers, garlands, two full coconuts, 6 bananas, modak (jaggery filled sweet), red chandan paste (red sandalwood paste), betel leaves (paan), betel nuts (supaari), durba grass, panchaamrita (honey, milk, ghee, curds, sugar – all in one cup), clay or metallic diyas or lamps, incense sticks (agarbatti).

Devotee can do the puja himself or the puja can be done by Vedic priests. The strict rituals of this puja are meant for Vedic priests/temples. While you are performing Ganesha Puja at home, you can always be flexible. All you need to be careful is to perform the puja with a clean body and clean mind.

Here is the simple guideline and puja vidhi you can follow to perform the puja.

You can start the puja by cleansing yourself, and keep the surroundings, puja place decorated, clean & tidy.

The most significant thing about Ganesh Puja is ‘Shodashopachara Puja’. There are sixteen steps included in the whole puja process.

Before initiating the puja ‘Deep Prajawalan’ and ‘Sankalpa’ are done which are not part of core sixteen steps of Shodashopachara Puja.

The Lord Ganesha idol should be placed on a clean platform. Put a clean plate or betel leaf facing the Lord.

Placing Lord Ganesha at Home or Work Place

After placing the Lord Ganesha, pray to him by chanting mantras from Rig Veda. Offer seat and scented water to the God. Sprinkle some holy water on him.

Place kumkum on the plate, and decorate it with flowers. You can keep the coconut in front of the idol or break in two parts which is believed as a sacred factor.

Offer fresh fruits, 21 modaks as prasad, after that offer 21 blades of Durba/Durva grass, red flowers to Lord Ganesha. Apply a tilak to the God using red sandalwood paste. The number 21 indicates the five organs of perception, actions, five vital airs (pranas), five elements, and the one mind.

Fold your hands in Namashkaar form, sit comfortably, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and start chanting ‘Om’. Sign the following mantras: “Vakratunda mahaakaaya soorya koti samaprabha/ nirvighnam kuru me deva sarva kaaryeshu sarvadaa”.

In the evening, light a clay diya or lamp with ghee/coconut oil, start reciting the 108 names of Ganesha or chant slokas. Offer the coconut, banana, milk as prasad/naivedya along with flowers to the Lord Ganesha.