AMN
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is being celebrated today in different parts of India with religious devotion. The day marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is a symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav, the day marks the beginning of ten-day-long festivities during which people place clay idols of Lord Ganesha at their homes and worship them.
The festivities conclude with the grand event of Ganesh Visarjan, where the idols of Lord Ganesha are immersed in water bodies, symbolising the cycle of creation and dissolution. The idols are carried in grand processions from homes and pandals to rivers, lakes, or seas, accompanied by chants of “Ganapati Bappa Morya,” bhajans, and dances.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a major attraction in Maharashtra, where people celebrate it with great zeal.
Maharashtra CM urges people to celebrate Ganeshotsav traditionally while minimising pollution
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed to people to celebrate Ganeshotsav traditionally while minimising pollution. He was speaking to reporters after installing and worshipping the Lord Ganesha idol at his official residence, ‘Varsha’, in Mumbai. The ten-day Ganeshotsav began across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, today.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations began with great enthusiasm across Maharashtra, with devotees welcoming Lord Ganesha amid prayers, aarti, devotional songs and chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya”.
In Mumbai, large crowds gathered for darshan of prominent idols including Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganeshgalli, Tejukaya and GSB. Special arrangements have been made by the police, Railways and BEST to manage crowds and traffic. In Pune, the five prestigious ‘Manache Ganpati’ and other mandals welcomed Bappa amid traditional celebrations. Similar festivities were reported from Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Nashik, Latur and other districts, with dhol-tasha, tutari and sanai-chaughada adding to the festive atmosphere.
Across the state, thousands of household and public idols were installed, with the ‘One Village, One Ganpati’ initiative adopted in several districts. This year, the focus is on traditional celebrations and reducing noise pollution. Health, blood donation, cultural and welfare programmes are also being organised alongside the festivities.