Ganeshotsav

Ganeshotsav, also known as Ganesh Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of beginnings and the remover of obstacles. The festival centers on placing clay idols in homes and public pandals, performing prayers and aarti, sharing meals, and then concluding with processions and the immersion of the idols in a water body.

The modern public celebration began in Maharashtra in the late 19th century and was popularized by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 as a means to foster social unity and nationalist sentiment under British rule. What started as family worship evolved into large, organized community events hosted by local associations called mandals, featuring sculpture, music, theatre, and charitable activities.

Ganeshotsav typically spans about 10 days, from the installation of the idol to Anant Chaturdashi, when processions culminate in the idol’s immersion. Daily rituals include shrines or pandal prayers, offerings of modak and other sweets, and musical processions with drums and trumpets. The festival is especially prominent in Maharashtra, with major celebrations in Mumbai and Pune, but it is observed in many parts of India and by Indian communities abroad.

In recent decades, environmental and sustainability concerns have shaped practices around the festival. Emphasis on eco-friendly, clay idols and responsible immersion aims to reduce water pollution, and authorities in some places regulate or guide immersion practices. Ganeshotsav remains a major cultural event that blends religious devotion with social and artistic expression.