Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: 6 facts about the festival you probably didn't know about

Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner and on the occasion, here are a few facts about the festival that you need to know.

Updated on: Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM IST

Lifestyle

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Ganesh Chaturthi, the 10-day-long festival dedicated to Lord Ganesh, will be observed on August 31 this year. It is celebrated every year on the fourth day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month Bhadrapada. This is one of the biggest festivals in India, especially in Maharashtra and is celebrated with great pomp across the country. Here are six facts about Lord Ganesh that you would love to know. (AFP)

2/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth of the Hindu elephant-headed God, Lord Ganesh, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. (ANI)

3/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

It is believed that Lord Ganesh was born in the Shukla Paksha of the Bhadrapada month so the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is observed every year during the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon). (HT Photo/Sunil Ghosh)

4/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Shhodashopachara is a ritual of Ganesh Chaturthi that involves 16 forms of paying tribute to Lord Ganesh. The steps include Aavaahana, Pratishthapan, Aasana Samarpana, Arghya Samarpan, Achamana, Madhuparka, Snaana, Vastra Samapana, Yagyopavit, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedya and Taamblooa. (AFP)

5/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Devotees offer Modaks to Lord Ganesh as part of Prasad to Lord Ganesh since it is considered to be his favourite sweet. Another popular sweet that is offered as 'bhog' to the Lord and later served as Prasad is Puran Poli. (PTI)

6/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Mythology has it that Goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesha out of the scum of rouge applied on her body while taking a bath and set him to guard her door until she finished. Ganesha wasn't aware of Lord Shiva being away so when he returned, Lord Ganesh was adamant about not letting him enter. Out of rage, Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha with his trident and entered the house. On learning this, Parvati got furious. Shiva promised Parvati that Ganesha will live again. Lord Shiva and the lords went out looking for a head facing north of a dead person and managed to find only an elephant head which he fixed on Ganesha's head that brought Ganesha back to life. (ANI)

7/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Aug 27, 2022 1:07 PM

Another tale that revolves around Ganesha's birth is that Lord Ganesh was created by Shiva and Parvati, at the request of Devas who wanted Ganesha to be a vighnakartaa (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas (and a vighnahartaa (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas. (PTI)