India's "Elephant God Festival" www.deekpay.com

About Elephant God Festival

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi (Elephant Goddess) isIndiaOne of the important festivals that celebratesHinduismThe festival celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the god of wisdom. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, the festival is celebrated for 10 days during the Hindu month of Bhadra (usually mid-August to mid-September).

During this festival, which is celebrated with fervour and ecstasy by Hindus all over India, especially in Maharashtra.

in honour of the Hindu deity and to pray to him to bless them with a prosperous and carefree life.

Legend of the Elephant Head God

The Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi commemorates the birth of Lord Elephant Head, who is believed to be the child of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Hindu mythology holds that Lord Shiva gave life to the elephant-headed god after Parvati moulded him from the clay of her body. Besides Ganesha, he is also known by the names Heramba and Ganpati.

The elephant-headed god is depicted as a man with an elephant's head and four hands on his body. When he raises his four hands, he can offer protection and blessings to the world. The elephant-headed god is also depicted with two tusks, one of which is broken and the other intact, representing the imperfections and perfection of the world. He often has a mouse at his feet, symbolising Ganesh's strength to overcome obstacles.

Considered by Hindus to be the remover of obstacles and the Lord of beginnings, the elephant-headed god is often prayed to when they are about to embark on something new, such as a new job or career path. The elephant-headed god is believed to bring good luck and prosperity, as well as wisdom and wealth. He is also the patron saint of travellers, intellectuals and writers.

Celebration of the Elephant God's Day

Before the Elephant God festival celebrations begin, a statue of the Elephant Head God is coated with a special paste and sprinkled with yellow and red flowers. Offerings are made to Ganesh, including coconuts and modak, which are believed to be the favourite food of the elephant-headed god. Once the celebration is over, the statues are transported to the sea, river or lake. This symbolises the return of the Elephant Head God to his parents' home, the sacred mountain of Ganesh.

Rituals of the Elephant God Festival

The Elephant God Festival is celebrated all over India and has similar connotations, but the rituals and traditions vary slightly from region to region. The duration of the celebrations also varies from region to region, usually 7 to 10 days. Some common observances:

Installation of the statue of Lord Ganesha: The statue of Lord Ganesha is installed on a plinth in a home or public place and Pranpratishtha puja is performed.

Not looking at the moon: on the first night of the festival, people avoid looking at the moon, which is considered an ominous sign.

Prayers: cleaning of statues; puja with recitation of shlokas and offering of flowers and sweets; aarti, i.e., meandering expression of the idol with a plate filled with lit earthen/metal lamps, kumkum and flowers. Prayer meetings are also held every evening and in some places in the morning at the temples and public facilities of the elephant-headed deities.

Special performances: Some of the public facilities at Elephant Head God may also have dance, music and skit performances.

Making and Eating Modak: Modak is considered to be the favourite dessert of Lord Elephant Head. Therefore, these dumplings are made and distributed as prasad during the festival. Other food items like laddoo, barfi, pedha and sundal are also distributed during this time.

Visarjan: This is the ritual of immersing the idol in a body of water and is performed on the last day of the festival (anytime between the seventh and eleventh day). The procession is accompanied by the singing of sambhajans, chants and songs with the idol. People seek forgiveness for the wrongs they have committed so far and pray to God to help them continue on the path of righteousness. Thanks are given to Lord Elephant Head for visiting the hometown/local area, removing obstacles from people's path and for the auspiciousness he bestows.