Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas  in every locality. The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions.

The pandals are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.

People decorate their houses and the pandals in which the idols of Lord Ganesha are kept with all the decorative items, lights, etc. Makhar, on which the idol of Lord Ganesha is kept, is a structure that resembles a throne or a temple like structure. It is generally made up of thermocol and is beautified with acrylic paint, beads, sequins, and other decorative items. Another significant aspect of Ganesh Chaturthi decorations is Rangoli, which is considered as the traditional art of decorating the ground with the use of natural biodegradable colours including the colourful gulal, turmeric, heena, rice powder, flowers etc. Such colours do not cause any harm to the health and environment. Grand rangolis are made in front of the houses and the pandals (temporary house of the deity) to welcome Lord Ganesha.

The setting up of a pandal is a very lengthy and complex process and the preparation for setting up each starts a good 20-30 days before the festival. The complete cost of the arrangement of the pandals is met by the community donations and the making of pandal is done according to the space provided and the expected gathering. In the decoration of the pandals, colourful clothes, fresh and artificial flowers, decorative lights, thermocol designs, etc. is used to beautify the pandal in a grand way. Besides this, people decorate their houses by lighting the earthen lamps (diyas). To make them more decorative and beautiful, the earthen lamps are painted with acrylic colours and different designs are made on them. Furthermore, the pandals and the houses are also beautified by using ethnic paper lanterns which also are easily available in different shapes, patterns and colours. Apart from this, people also adorn their houses with colourful lights arranged in different patterns, giving a new look to each. All these decorations attract more people from all over the country who come to observe the beauty and grandeur with which the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated.

Ganesh Visarjan :

Ganesha is worshipped for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudha Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing 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. This is the ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan in Marathi, Ganesha Visarjane in Kannada and Vinayaka Nimarjana orVinayaka Nimajjanam in Telugu. At individual homes the Visarjan/Nimajjanam is also done on 3rd, 5th or 7th day as per the family tradition. After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idols to the river to immerse it.

Some homes buy their own small clay statue, and after 1,3 or 11 days immerse it in a bucket or tub at home, so as not to pollute public lakes or rivers. After a few days the clay is used in the home garden.Public celebrations of the festival are hugely popular, with local communities (mandalas) vying with each other to put up the biggest statue and the best pandal. The festival is also the time for cultural activities like singing and theater performances, orchestra and community activities like free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, etc.