Although the festival lasts for ten days, the arrangements begin with the preparations of idols two to three months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi. These clay idols are huge and are carved by skilled craftsmen, depicting Ganapati in various poses.
Then few days before the puja day, people start to clean their houses, or may be get their homes white-washed. Ganesh Mandap or Ganesh Pandal is decorated with flowers and leaves of coconut or banana, several days before the beginning of the festivities. After the cleaning and decking up of the place, the place is prepared for establishment of idol of Lord Ganesha.
People take bath early in the morning on the day of Ganapati puja; they wear new clothes and perform the puja with all the rituals. Idols of Ganesha are bought from the shops and are taken to the homes, temples or pandals with the faces of covered with a saffron cloth. Chanting of prayers in the praise of the Lord continues all the way. These days it is advised to buy eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha. These idols of Lord Ganesha are then placed at the podium, at a place where puja is held. Ganapati's idols is then beautified with floral garlands and sandalwood paste and A kalash containing holy water or rice is then placed before the Lord's statue, it is known as Purna Kumbha. After this, the prayers are performed to invoke the presence of Lord in the idol by the priest. This ritual is called Pranpratishhtha. Chanting of mantras and hymns takes place while the custom of pranpratishhtha is completed.
After that, a 16-fold praying procedure, Shodashopachara is followed: Aavaahana, Aasana, Paadya, Arghya, Aachamana, Madhuparka, Snaana, Vastra, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedya, Taamblooa, Aarati, and Mantrapushpa.
When the Shodashopachara is completed, aarti with 108 names of Lord Ganesha is recited along with Ganesh mantras. This aarti admiring the Lord is performed twice a day. Incense sticks are shown to the god and coconuts are offered.In the evening of the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi, sthapana (installation) of the idol takes place. The idol is installed in the place of worship. All the members of the household gather around the decorated altar and the priests perform a ritual, by which the idol is said to be filled with life.
Ganesh Chaturthi is generally celebrated for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. The festival marks its end on Chaturdashi, when the idols of the lord from homes, temples and pandals are taken with a royal procession for immersion with aloud chants of of "Ganapati Bappa Maurya" or "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai", with strong belief that Lord Ganesha would take their sorrows with him while going and earnestly requesting the Lord to return again soon next year.
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