Bhubaneswar: Ganesh Chaturthi, a revered Hindu festival, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity. This year, the festival will commence on August 27 and will span 07 to 10 days, culminating in the Visarjan, where idols are immersed in water bodies.
The festivities begin with Ganesh Sthapana, where intricately crafted Ganesha idols are installed in homes, public pandals, and educational institutions, adorned with flowers, lights, and sweets like modaks. The festival is marked by prayers, aartis, and community celebrations.
To prepare for Ganesh Sthapana, devotees clean and decorate the puja area with flowers, banana leaves, and mango leaves. The idol of Lord Ganesha is installed on a clean and elevated platform, facing east or north. The puja rituals involve 16 steps, known as Shodashopachara Puja, which include lighting a diya, taking a sankalpa, and worshipping Lord Ganesha with flowers, fruits, and sweets.
The Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat on August 27 is from 11:05 am to 01:40 pm, considered an auspicious time for the puja. Devotees chant Puranik Mantras during the puja, seeking Lord Ganesha’s blessings for wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune. The festival concludes with Visarjan, where the idol is immersed in water, symbolising the cycle of life and death.
