There are dozens of festivals celebrated in Maharashtra, but the grand and the most favourite of all is Ganesh Chaturthi. If you have never seen the magnificent carnival of Ganeshotsav of Maharashtra, then allow me to take you to a splendid ride through my blog.
Being a journalist, I happen to go around various places to catch the stories and bring them to the viewers. And as I am a happy go lucky person who loves the craze of festivals, my boss often gives me the project to shoot such news from across the nation.
Last year, I was fortunate enough to cover the 11 day extravaganza of Vinayaka Chaturthi in the most happening city ‘Aamchi Mumbai’. If you are unaware of this festival then let me give you a brief idea about it. Hindu Lord Ganesha was born on this day, and since then people celebrate his birthday with much enthusiasm and commitment.
Not just in Maharashtra, the festival is also celebrated with much delight in parts of South India as well. People make huge pandals on roads and in lanes and big, interesting idols of Ganesh are made. Families bring small and cute looking idols of the Lord in their houses and offer puja or prayers to the Lord.
Lord Ganesha Statues at Home | Image Resource : vegrecipesofindia.com
People sing, dance around, perform dramas, and various cultural feasts are organized. People even go for pandal hopping every day, which means wandering and checking out the themes and decoration at different places. Lord Ganesha is offered with delicacies each day with modaks, laddoos and other sweets.
People sing, dance on Ganesha Festival | Image Resource : gt.ibnlive.in.com.akadns.net
Modaks, Laddoos prasada for Lord Ganesha | Image Resource : gogappa.com, cutmirchi.com, onlineganesh.com
On the eleventh day, an impressive procession is taken on the roads when Ganesha is given a goodbye and is taken for immersion in the water as a belief that Ganesha is going to his mother’s (Ganga) place and will be back next year.
Immersion of lord Ganesha Statue in the water | Image Resource : vedicambassador.wordpress.com
There is a public holiday given as the roads and streets are jammed on this day. People shout phrases like Ganpati Bappa Morya, Agle Baras Jaldi Aana, which means come back soon next year. Overall, this is a great event and one has to see the happiness on the faces of public during the Ganesh festival. This year, 17th September 2015 is the date and I wish I get a chance again to enjoy this amazing festival.
Ganpati Bappa Morya | Image Resource : wallpapersshd.com
Dazling Goa 