ELEPHANT-HEADED DEITY GANESHA

Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav commenced in several parts across the nation.


Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is celebrated every year to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of beginnings. Lord Ganesha is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity, luck, success and good fortune. Lord Ganesha is also addressed as Vighnaharta, Gajanana, Gajadant among others. The festival is celebrated in the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapada month which, as per the Gregorian calendar, falls in months of August or September, according to Drik Panchang.


History
Goddess Parvati made Ganesha out of sandalwood paste and put him on guard while she was taking a bath. When Lord Shiva came back, Ganesha would not allow him to pass through. Full of anger, Lord Shiva severed the child's head. When Goddess Parvati came to know about this, she was heartbroken, after which Shiva promised that he would bring Ganesha back to life. He instructed his followers to search for a child's head. However, they could only find a baby elephant's head. Thus, he was reborn with elephant head, and has since been worshiped above and before all gods. It is for this reason that Ganesh Chaturthi leads the way for every other Hindu festival and happy occasion to follow.


It is and can last up to 10 days during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. There is a lot of excitement weeks before Ganesh Chaturthi, with people making clay idols of Ganesha and painting them. Sweet Modok, which is believed to be the favourite of Lord Ganesha, is offered to the idol and distributed to the community. Shrikhand, Payasam, Coconut rice and Motichoor laddoo are also offered during puja.

Devotees throng to the temples to pay their respects to Lord Ganesha, where pujas take places and bhajans are sung. Localities put up pandals in which huge statues of Lord Ganesha are put up.
After the ritual, Lord Ganesha's statue is immersed in the sea, there is a lot of singing, dance and merriment that takes place.


Every year, the Hindu festival is celebrated with much fervour and warmth. However, this year, in the view of the coronavirus outbreak, the festival is being celebrated in a subdued manner. Adapting to the new normal, most people kept the celebrations confined to their homes. Pandals visits were also limited across the country. At the temples, priests were seen following all the safety protocols, covering their faces with masks and maintaining social distancing to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The virus has also made it as a theme for Ganesh idols this year. Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbai's popular sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, cancelled its large-scale celebrations and instead conducted a blood and plasma donation camp while celebrating its Arogya Utsav on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

People across the country seem to have adapted themselves to the changing times brought about by the pandemic. Traditional festivities have been tweaked, keeping the fervour intact. From limiting visits to pandals to keeping celebrations confined to one's home, this is how people are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi this year.


HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI





Reference: The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Timesnow

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