Vinayaka Chaturthi 2017 - Ganesh Chaturthi

On August 25, 2017 Vinayaka Chaturthi will be celebrated. According to the Hindu Lunar Calendar, every month has two Chaturthi Tithis, which are dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha. The Chaturthi Tithi after Amavasya or new moon at the time of Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, sacred to invoke Sri Ganapati and seek his blessings. While some devotees of Lord Ganesha will observe Vinayak Chaturthi fast every month, whereas others will fast only on Vinayaka Chaturthi of Bhadrapada month, as astrologically this is the most significant and auspicious of all Chaturthi Tithis.

Vinayaka Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and will be celebrated by Hindus with utmost devotion and enthusiasm. While in some states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the festival of Vinayaka Chaturthi will range from 10 to 11 days in others it will be a one day festival.

What makes Vinayaka Chaturthi so popular as a celebration? Well, to understand the true significance of Vinayaka Chaturthi, one needs to understand the symbolic significance of Lord Ganesha. 'Ga' symbolises Buddhi (intellect), 'Na' stands for Vijnana (wisdom). So, Lord Ganesha is very popular among students as a deity who can bless them with intelligence and Knowledge. Religious texts on Lord Ganapati signifies him as the master of all masters; who is the master of all Hindu Lords but has no one above him. He is also known as 'Mooshika Vahana' - one who subdues ignorance and dispels darkness. Like every year, this Vinayaka Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha will bless his devotees with the light of knowledge and prosperity.

On the occasion of Vinayaka Chaturthi, families will bring home the idol of Lord Ganesha at a muhurta (auspicious time). The idol will be wrapped in glittering cloth with face covered. Belief has it that it is only after the performance of 'pran pratishthapana puja' that the idol should be unveiled. According to the Hindu Panchang, the idol of Lord Ganesha will be kept home all through the ten days of Ganesha Utsav and invoked by family members, friends and relatives each of these days with Ganesha Mantra and Ganesha Aarti .

Vinayaka has all the qualities of a true leader in all aspects. Even Lord Shiva, the father, worships his son Vinayaka, and so on. Hindu Puja is incomplete without his worship and blessings. Celebrate Vinayaka Chaturthi with heartfelt devotion and be rest assured that Vigneshwara (Lord Ganesha, the Remover of all obstacles ) will help you come out of difficult situations in life. Whatever you may want in life; success, fame, material prosperity; Lord Ganesha is sure to bless you with the same.

For conducting Ganesha Puja at home, here is a list of puja items that you will need. When you go shopping for Vinayaka Chaturthi, here's what you should look for:

• A clay image or murti of Lord Ganesha
• Red and yellow flowers
• Druva grass blades
• One Coconut
• Sweets (preferably Modak)
• Sandalwood paste and incense sticks
• Incense and agarbatti
• Panchamrit

Here are some simple rituals that are an important part of Ganesha Puja that you can follow on Vinayaka chaturthi:

The first thing to do is get up early, clean the house and take bath, then install the idol of Lord Ganesha at the place of worship. With all family members, relatives and friends invoke Lord Ganesha reciting mantras and singing bhajans of Lord Ganesha. Perform Pran - Pratishtha and asking Lord Ganesha to enter your house and hearts. Here's a pran prathishta mantra that you need to chant on Vinayaka Chaturthi:

"Gananaam tvam ganapatim havamahe kavim kavinam-upam-shravastamam |
jyeshtharajam brahmanaam brahmanaspata aa nah sharn-vannu-tibhih seeda sadanam ||"

On the last day of Vinayaka Chaturthi 2017, the idol of Lord Ganesha will be immersed in water with the voice of devotees reverberating 'Ganpati Bappa Moriya' and bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha .

Wish all you visitors A Very Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi..!!