GANESH PUJA

Lord Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Maa Shakti. He is the first one to be worshipped in Hinduism before commencing any puja or starting a new venture. He is the remover of obstacles and therefore worshipping Ganesh can clear the hurdles to progress and bless the devotees with clarity of thought, strength, courage, prosperity and success. The ideal days to do Ganesh puja are Mondays, Chaturti and Sankashti Chaturti. Ganesh puja is usually performed before starting a new venture. However, you can do Ganesh puja on any day you feel. Here is a simple procedure for doing Ganesh puja at home.

GANAPATI STAPANA/GANESH PUJA AT HOME

At homes in Maharashtra, families install small clay statues for worship during the festival. The Murti is worshiped in the morning and evening with offerings of flowers, durva, karanji and modaks.The worship ends with the singing of an aarti in honour of Ganesha, other Gods and Saints. In Maharashtra, Ganeshotsav also incorporates other festivals, namely Hartalika and the Gauri festival, the former is observed with a fast by women on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi whilst the latter by the installation of Murti's of Gauris. In Maharashtra the Marathi aarti "Sukhakarta Dukhaharta" is sung at prior of all aartis. Domestic celebrations end after ?1 1/2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 days. At that time the Murti is ceremoniously brought to a body of water such as a lake, river or the sea for immersion. In Maharashtra, Ganeshotsav also incorporates other

s of flowers, durva, karanji and modaks.The worship ends with the singing of an aarti in honour of Ganesha, other Gods and Saints. In Maharashtra, Ganeshotsav also incorporates other festivals, namely Hartalika and the Gauri festival, the former is observed with a fast by women on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi whilst the latter by the installation of Murti's of Gauris. In Maharashtra the Marathi aarti "Sukhakarta Dukhaharta" is sung at prior of all aartis. Domestic celebrations end after ?1 1/2, 3, 5, 7 or 11 days. At that time the Murti is ceremoniously brought to a body of water such as a lake, river or the sea for immersion. In Maharashtra, Ganeshotsav also incorporates other

GANESH PUJA AT PANDALS/MANDAPS

Public celebrations of the festival are popular, and are organised by local youth groups, neighborhood associations or groups of tradespeople. The Ganesha idols and accompanying statues are installed in temporary shelters, known as mandaps or pandals. The festival features cultural activities such as singing, theater and orchestral performances and through many other ways.

The primary sweet dish during the festival is modak in Marathi and Konkani, modakam or kudumu in TelugU. A modak is a dumpling made from rice or wheat flour, stuffed with grated coconut, jaggery, dried fruits and other ingredients and steamed or fried. Another popular sweet dish is the karanji , similar to modak in composition and taste but in a semicircular shape.