Happy 2017 Ganesh Chaturthi

Today, Friday August 25 is the first day of the Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, the birthday of Lord Ganesha. Chaturthi always starts on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September).

Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,

Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,

Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,

Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe

“SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is Brahman Himself, who is the Supreme Lord, who is the energy of Lord Shiva, who is the source of all bliss, and who is the bestower of all virtuous qualities and success in all undertakings.”

HAPPY  2017 GANESH  CHATHURTHI

Swami Sivananda Recommends:

”On Ganesh Chaturthi, meditate on the stories connected with Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period. Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His Presence in it.

Don’t forget DO NOT LOOK AT THE MOON on this day; remember that it behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru and religion, from this very day.

Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual strength to attain success in all your undertakings.”

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However we decide to celebrate this Ganesha festival, lets all try to remember to keep everything as eco friendly as possible and avoid the dreadful pollution and environmental damage caused by Plaster of Paris idols and chemical paints. For help in understanding the environmental impact of this Festival and what we can do to help go to this link here.

The Festival ends with the immersion of the idol on Ananta Chaturdasi Day (this year Monday, September 4, 2017).

“On that day, statues of the God will be taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a river, sea, lake or water tank symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of his devotees, this is the ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan”.

[Swami Shivananda]

Anant Chaturdashi is performed on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad.

Anant Chaturdashi has two main significances. The first is that on this day is that it is the day of the immersion of  Lord Ganesha. On this day, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi comes to an end, the installed Murti's of the Elephant God are taken to a lake, river or a sea in procession and immersed in the waters. Thus Lord Ganesha is departed, only to be welcomed the next year with equal excitement.

The second reason for Anant Chaturdashi is that on this day people recite and listen to the stories and legends of God Vishnu who is Anant, the infinite and recite hymns from the Vedas. This is sometimes also called Ananta Vrat.