Ganesha Chathurthi

The annual festival in honor of Ganesha or Ganapati, the elephant-headed deity who is known as the remover of obstacles and the god of auspiciousness, has been observed for at least 250 years, and perhaps at least since the twelfth century. Though the festival had largely been a private affair, where each family purchased an idol of Ganesha and then took it out in procession on Ganesha Chaturthi before immersing it in the river, pond, or tank, it had not been without its public and community aspect, since often several families joined in the procession, or

otherwise pooled together their resources to buy a larger-sized idol. Subscriptions were collected on behalf of a residential area, market, or organization for the purchase of large idols of Ganesha, which were then placed on pavilions (mandaps) and made the object of collective worship. All the immersions take place on the tenth and final day. Various song-and-dance parties are attached to each mandap. Ganesha festival is celebrated in most parts of India, in state of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,Maharastra and Gujarat. The festival is an extraordinary testimony to the public place of religion in Indian life, the liveliness of Indian communities, the splendors of street life, the strength of popular artistic and artisan traditions, and the glorious malleability of one beloved Indian deity.



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