Ganesh Chaturthi is the most popular festival in Maharashtra. During Ganesh Chaturthi Ganeshas mother Gauri and son are welcomed, consecrated and worshipped together. The idol of Goddess Gauri is brought home and placed nest to Ganesh with a lot of enthusiasm.

Before the idol of Gauri enters the home, Gauri’s footsteps are drawn with kumkum and then married women bring Her into the house. Some families bring the idol of Goddess Gauri. Some keep the photograph of Gauri and some keep the Kalash (copper vessel/pot) and the face of the Goddess is made with coconut. The Kalash contains barks of 5 different trees and then consecrated with mantras, with which Goddess’s Avahaan is done and She comes and resides. Next to the Goddess is another Kalash which represents Lord Shiva. So we have the whole family together with Lord Shiva, Goddess Gauri and their son Shri Ganesh.

Goddess Gauri stays for one and half days. Naivedya (fruits, cooked food and sweets) are offered and Aarti is done as per Vidhi (performing rituals based on the Panchang or the right and auspicious timings).

Friends and Families gather together to worship and enjoy the presence of Ganesh and Godess Gauri in their home for few days. Ganesh Chaturthi - Ganesh festival ends on Anant Chaturdashi with heavy heart, all feel sad at the  time of Visarjan / immersion of Ganesh / Ganapti and Gauri. But Ganapti - Lord Ganesh promises to return again the following year and every time the devotees long for Him. Ganapati Bappa Morya!! Pudhchya varshi lavkar ya! Ganapati gele gavala, Chain pane na aamhala !

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet for this Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi - Ganapati Aarti  - Lyrics of Sukhkarta Dukhharta Aarti.  A beautiful Ganapati Aarti / Bhajan for Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturti to worship Ganapati, Lord Ganesh.

Ganesh Chaturthi - Video of Sukhkarta Dukhharta Aarti for this Ganesh Chaturthi

Sukh karta dukhharta
Varta vighnachi
Noorvi poorvi prem krupya jayachi
Sarwangi sundar utishendurachi
Kanthi jhalke maad mukhta padhanchi

Jai dev jai dev
Jai mangal murti
Darshan marte maan kamana purti
Jai dev jai dev

Ratnakhachit Phara Tujh Gaurikumra
Chandanaachi Uti Kumkum ke shara
Hire jadit Mukut Shobhato Bara
Runjhunati Nupure Charani Ghagriya

Jai dev jai dev
Jai mangal murti
Darshan marte maan kamana purti
Jai dev jai dev

Lambodar Pitaambar Phanivar vandana
Saral Sond Vakratunda Trinayana
Das Ramacha Vat Pahe Sadna
Sankati Pavave Nirvani Rakshave Survar vandana

Jai dev jai dev 2
Jai mangal murti
Darshan marte maan kamana purti
Jai dev jai dev

Also for this Ganesh Chaturthi try your hands on preparing Ganapati’s most favourite sweet - MODAK (for strangers to the concept these can be called - “steamed rice dumplings with sweet filling”). It is customary to make Modaks on the very first day of Ganesh Utsav. Modaks are so tasty, delicate and tender and like they say “you cant eat just one…” So prepare Ganapatis Favourite sweet Modak for Ganesh Chaturthi.

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet for this Ganesh Chaturthi

Read our blogs on Ganesh Chaturthi

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Genesh Chaturthi - Ganesh Utsav is a very popular Hindu festival, celebrated every year in a grand manner in Maharashtra and all the states of India. Ganesh Chaturthi means the birthday of Lord Ganesha and the day is recognized for most sacred to Lord Ganesha. It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August - September) and is observed, worshiped  throughout India, as well as by committed Hindus in all parts of the world.

Ganapati - Lord Ganesha is described and depicted as a God with the elephant head, in Hindu Mythology. God Ganesha is considered primary God and is worshiped first in any prayers.

Here is a vedio of Ganesh Puja with Ganesh Aarti

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet for this Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi : Adventures in circumnavigation : In a couple of days, Lord Ganesh festival - Ganesh Chaturthi, an annual celebration of India’s elephant-headed God, begins in many Indian households. One of the stories about Lord Ganesh is about a circumnavigation contest where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, the parents of Lord Ganesh and his brother, had their sons compete to navigate the planet. While his brother literally traveled the circumference, Lord Ganesh is said to have navigated his parents, arguing that circumnavigating his parents wasn’t unlike circumnavigating the whole world, since his parents were his world.

Actually, Lord Ganesha’s argument theoretically holds true at two places on the planet - the north pole and the south pole. So, if Lord Shiva and his wife had in fact been sitting at either of the poles, circumnavigating them would have meant circumnavigating the planet.

But Commander Dilip Donde of Indian navy isn’t using any of the tricks that Ganesha used. Donde, an experienced diver for Indian navy, is on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will take him around the globe in a 56-feet yacht, over a distance of about 22000 nautical miles. Donde’s 9-month ride includes 4 halts - in Australia, New Zealand, Falkland Islands and South Africa.

The yacht named Mhadei (named after Goa’s river Mandavi) was manufactured in India, but several parts including the board have been imported from abroad. Donde’s circumnavigation has been funded and sponsored by his bosses at India’s defence ministry.

Just a month ago, Donde completed a solo sail from Mauritius to Goa in preparation for this world tour. To qualify for the honor of circumnavigating the planet, a yachtsman has to complete at least 21,600 nautical miles, cross the equator, cross every meridian and end the journey at the starting port. Commander Donde’s Sagar Parikrama (Circumnavigation) begins today and will go on for the next 9 months. Good luck Commander. Lord Ganesh, the God of wisdom is with you. And so will be the Gods of wind and of the oceans.

Source : Its IndiaTime

Modak Recipe - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet

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Ganesh Chaturthi - Mumbai will not have many artificial lakes for Ganesh Visarjan this year. BMC is not in a mood to create 19 artificial lakes as it had announced earlier as BMC didn’t get enough response from devotees. Last year  eco-friendly immersions had got good response though.

The civic body had asked the citizens’ groups to inform them if they wanted to have an artificial lake in their locality. Also the eco-friendly immersion was suggested to people by the BMC with financial assistance. But people did not show interest.

So, the BMC has cancelled its plan to have additional lakes and will reduce the number from that of last year from 25 to 17. With the result there will be no artificial lakes in Bandra, Dharavi and Girgaum. It costs almost Rs 3 lakh on one lake. Though the citizens’ groups promoting the eco friendly immersions are not happy with the BMC’s move.

This Ganesh Visarjan choose the eco-friendly methods to avoid adding to the traffic congestion and water and noise pollution on immersion days.

7 things we can do to make this an Eco-friendly Ganpati - Ganesh Utsav

Modak - Ganapati’s favourite Sweet