What is Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is the day on which Lord Ganesha came down to the earth from mount Kailash. It is one of the most awaited & widely celebrated festivals across the world. Ganesh Chaturthi normally falls in the month of August or September. Chaturthi means the fourth day of the month & the fourth day of Hindu Bhadrapada month is celebrated as Ganesha Chaturthi. This festival goes on for 11 days from the Chaturthi and ends on Chaturdashi or Anant Chaturdashi. People bring home beautifully sculpted idols of Lord Ganesha. An elaborate puja known as pran prathistha is conducted on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi to establish & invoke the deity in it. Ganeshotsav, Chouthi, etc. are the other names of this festival.
Top 5 Destinations to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in India:
1) Kanipakam
The temple of Kanipakam in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh is the center of attraction for tourists as well as local devotees. There is a big celebration that starts from Ganesh Chaturthi and goes on for 21 days. A temple named Kanipakam hoists this festival annually known as Brahmotsav. The residents celebrate this grand event with great fervor and the village is full of festivities for 21 days. Devotees visit the temple to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha and ask for wish fulfillment. This is one of the most popular temples in South India. In fact, South Indians visit the Kanipakam temple and devotees from other states of the country.
2) Ganpatipule
Located near the coastal range of Maharashtra, Ganpatipule is a splendorous temple of Lord Ganesha. It is a Swayambhu Ganpati temple with thousands of visitors throughout the year. “Swayambhu” means the one who came into being on its own. The beautiful decorations of the temple during Ganesh Chaturthi make it a visual treat. Since it is at the beach, it is a sight to behold when the lights dazzle in the evening. The localities organize processions with God idols in the palanquin and dance their hearts out to express their happiness on the arrival of Lord Ganesha.
3) Hyderabad
In Hyderabad, devotees bring Ganpati idols at home and come together to revere Lord Ganesha. Different parts of the cities establish large Ganesha idols. Big processions are planned during the arrival of Ganpati which includes music & dance. Khairatabad has Ganesha idols as tall as 57 ft. This attracts many visitors from around the nation and world. Refined artists design majestic idols with detailed features. Many Pandaal in Hyderabad have magnificent decorations and Ganesha murti/idol that are worth visiting.
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4) Pune
The people of Pune in Maharashtra celebrate Ganeshotsav with great excitement. People are clad in traditional Maharashtrian attire and bring home Ganesha idols. There are grand processions and various Dhol-Tasha Pathak playing percussion musical instruments (Dhol). Large groups of people gather and celebrate Ganeshotsav by performing Aarti, offering Naivedya, etc, in the morning and evening. Guruji Talim Ganpati, Dagdu Sheth Ganpati, Tulshi Baug Ganpati, Kesariwada Ganeshotsav truly are the famous attractions of Pune on Ganesh Chaturthi. Many devotees take part in this celebration and dance to the beats of Dhol in joy.
5) Mumbai
Mumbai is the top 1 destination for celebrating Ganeshotsav. For 11 days people light up & decorate the streets. Each area of the city has a Pandaal/Mandal that sets the complete decoration with a special platform to place the huge Ganesha idol. The festivities create a joyous and fun-filled environment. In Ganeshotsav, the streets of Mumbai are full of life and bursting with noise, celebrations, and excitement. There are funfairs, different kinds of amusement rides, food stalls, jewelry stalls, and many more, all set up throughout the 11 days. Every Ganpati mandap has a large queue outside and crowds from various parts of the country gather in the street to see the decorations & Ganesha idols which are larger-than-life.
Ganesha idols with heights of up to 22 ft. are established and their arrival ceremonies are a delight to watch. One must definitely visit at least once to enjoy the wonderful festival of Ganesh Chaturthi at places like Lalbaug in Mumbai.