Ganesh Chaturthi — August / September

1 IMAGES

Born of clay and a mother’s love, Ganesha came into being when Goddess Parvati sculpted him from sandalwood paste and breathed life into him. This elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati is among Hinduism’s most beloved deities, worshipped as the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and new beginnings. His birthday, Ganesh Chaturthi, falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada and unfolds over ten days of extraordinary devotion.

The festival is celebrated across India, particularly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, as well as in Sri Lanka. It was Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who, in 1893, transformed what was once a private family ritual into a grand public celebration, using it to unite Indians against British colonial rule.

Today, elaborately crafted Ganesha idols are installed in homes and community pandals, worshipped daily with prayers, modak offerings, and aarti. On the tenth day, Ganesh Visarjan sees thousands carry the idols to rivers and seas amid drumbeats, dancing, and the joyful chant of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya”, which means “O Lord Ganesha, come back again soon next year.”

For visitors, watching an entire city pour into the streets to bid farewell to their beloved Ganpati is an experience that stays with you long after the crowds have gone home.

FESTIVAL ARCHIVE

May +-

  • Buddha Purnima — May

    • March +-

  • Eid ul Fitr — Late February / March (date shifts annually)
  • Holi — March

    • February +-

  • Maha Shivratri — February / March

    • January +-

  • Republic Day

    • December +-

  • Christmas — 25th December

    • October +-

  • Diwali — October / November
  • Dussehra — October

    • August +-

  • Ganesh Chaturthi — August / September
  • Independence Day — 15th August
  • Raksha Bandhan — August
    • @indiabycreative

    Follow us on Instagram
    @indiabycreative