VINAYAKA CHATURTHI

Monday, April 29, 2013,5:58 AM

written By : D.Sumithra

The lord with the head of an elephant and a big presence, with an aura and gloss of a million suns; we pray to you, bless us and remove all obstacles we wish to undertake.

Vakratunda Mahakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada.

This one simple line summarizes one of India's favorite deities, who finds a place in every single important occasion Hindus across the world celebrate. Be it festivals, birth or wedding, Hindus put their trust in Lord Ganesha who will oversee everything and take all their troubles away.

To celebrate the birthday of this Lord of beginnings, Hindus indulge in a festival called Ganesh or Vinayaka Chaturthi, celebrated between mid August to early September. Although celebrated across India, it is an extremely prominent festival in Maharashtra and the South of India.

In Maharashtra, it's a 10 day long celebration. Months before the festival, sculpting of life like idols of different shapes, sizes and poses begins and on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees place those idols on a raised pedestal in their homes and decorate them with full fervor. Celebrations begin with a symbolic breathing of life in the idol by a priest and people start paying homage to it. As is always the case in Indian festivals, there is a food for every one of it. Modakas, a dumpling made with jaggery, coconut and dry fruit filling in a rice flour skin, usually steamed or deep fried, are offered to the God along with other sweets, savories and flowers. These modakas are later distributed as prasad to other devotees. Prayers and food is offered to the lord for 10 days and he is worshipped to bless the house and the people where He is established. On the 11th day, people gather together in a procession and carry the image on their heads or shoulders, singing and dancing along to be immersed in a body of water. Chants asking the God to come back sooner next year can be loudly heard as it is believed that He is taking all their misfortune away with him in the water and should come back sooner again to rid them of their obstacles. With loads of gratitude and camphor and flower Arthi, The idol is immersed in a sea or river.

In recent times, among the raising concerns of whether this is really environmentally friendly, idols are being made from degradable materials, without impacting this festival, which is not just a festival in Maharashtra anymore - it is a culture defining event that impacts life and lifestyles of people.

In the south of India, this day is celebrated with the belief that Ganesha was the first ever to plough land. It is a major festival down south when people indulge in fasting and feasting, decorate their houses and wear the festive look and throng temples to offer their prayers to this lord with a single tooth and large ears, used to hear the prayers of his followers. Sweets and savories are offered here too, to please the God. Lord Ganesha's favorite Modakas are called Kozhukattai here and are offered along with boiled and spiced black gram called Sundal.

This festival is one to mark the beginning of festive season in India, much like the lord associated with it as He, too, blesses the beginning of many things auspicious. This friendly deity of wisdom and wealth, of blessings and beginnings, rests in our homes and hearts and teaches us about many a virtues of life.