Ganesh Chaturthi – a few celebration ideas!

Ganesha Chaturthi is a Hindu festival celebrated on the birthday (rebirth) of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Also known as Vinayak Chaturthi, Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival celebrating the day on which Lord Ganesh appeared on earth for his devotees. Ganesh, also known as Ganapati, is the elephant headed God, worshipped before all Gods in the Hindu religion. Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally remembered at the beginning of all new ventures for his blessings.

According to the Hindu calendar, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the Shukla Chaturthi which usually occurs between 20 August and 15 September.

2019 dates for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations are:
Ganesh Chaturthi date: September 2, 2019, Monday
Ganesha Visarjan date: September 12, 2019, Thursday

The festival lasts for almost 10 days and is celebrated with greatest enthusiasm in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Celebration Ideas

10 days of Ganesh Chaturthi are celebrated with cultural activities like singing and theater performances, orchestra and community activities like free medical checkup, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, etc.

Here are some celebration ideas to choose from:

1. Tradition says that Parvati created Ganesha from the sandalwood paste that she had applied on her body. So a day before the Ganesh Puja, organize a small pooja for mother Parvati – an all women affair! Call a small gathering of women friends, offer ‘Shringar’ to Goddess Parvati followed by a ‘keertan’ (singing bhajans and prayers in praise of Gods and Goddesses). End the ceremony with distribution of ‘Prasad’. Optionally, you may also plan to serve snacks and beverages to all before they leave.
2. Organize a Rangoli making competition at a nearby temple or community hall.
3. Organize a ‘modak‘ making competition. Since Lord Ganesha was extremely fond of modaks (similar to another popular Indian sweet called ‘laddoo’), the winner’s modak can be offered to Lord Ganesha before the other modaks.
4. Modak eating competition can also be organized for lots of laughter and fun.
5. Organize a Ganesha painting competition and award the best painting.
6. Organize children’s fancy dress competition by dressing them up as little Ganesha, Shiva or Parvati.
7. Offer eatables, money and clothes to the poor and deprived. You may start a few days in advance and request everyone in your neighbourhood to donate clothes, toys etc. in large boxes kept at some common place. On the auspicious day, you can offer them to the needy people.
8. Plan the celebration in a much more organized way by sending free online invitations.

Ganesha that grows into a tree- An initiative to save the environment

Shopping Ideas for Ganesh Chaturthi

Music / Songs to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi

Kannada Songs

• Bhadrapada Shuklada Chowtiyandu – P.B.Srinivas & S.Janaki
• Eddelu Manjunatha – P.B.Srinivas
• Ivale Veenapaani – S.Janaki
• Malenaadina – S.Janaki
• Nambide Ninna – B.K.Sumitra
• Nodu Nodu Kannare – B.K.Sumitra
• Nyaya Neethi – B.K.Sumitra
• Sharanara Kaaye Chamundeshwari – B.K.Sumitra
• Sharanu Sharanayya Sharanu Benaka – P.B.Srinivas
• Shuklambharadharam – Gajamukhane – S.Janaki

Hindi Songs

• Deva Shree Ganesha from Agneepath movie
• GANPATI BAPPA MORAYA by GEETA DUTT/CHORUS
• Om Gan Ganpati Namaha by Various Artists
• JAI JAI GANPATI BAPPA MORAYA by Arvind Mohite
• Moriya Re from film Don and sung by Shankar Mahadevan
• Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh from film shri Ganesh Janm and sung by Chorus and Sulochana
• Jai Jai Shree Ganesh from film Shri Ganesh and sung by Suman Kalyanpur
• Ganesh Utpati from film Bal Ganesh and sung by Hema Desai
• Nanha Munha Bal Ganesh from film Bal Ganesh and sung by Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar
• Teri Deewani Duniya Saari from film My Friend Ganesha and sung by Javed Ali

You May Also like:

• How to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi
• How to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami in your Society

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