Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival worth looking forward to every year.

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chavithi, a well known auspicious Hindu festival in the Bhadra month.

As per the Hindu calendar, the Bhadra month falls from mid-August to September, marking the birthday of the beloved elephant-headed Lord Ganesha. 

Lord Ganesha is well known as the God of wealth, science, knowledge, wisdom and prosperity.

Ganesha also possesses 107 different names, such as Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vighnaharta, among the many other names. 

People follow four main rituals during the ten-day long festival: Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashoachara, Uttarpuja and Ganapati Visarjan. 

Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that people celebrate with great enthusiasm and zeal in India, such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. 

Back in 1893, the British banned political assemblies and gathering. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival was brought back into existence but the Indian Nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 

On 10th September 2021, celebrations for the ten-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival is taking place all over the country on Friday morning despite Covid 19 restrictions.

A Ludhiana based bakery owner Harjinder Singh is making a Ganesh idol with dark chocolate stating that the primary purpose of making chocolate Ganesh is to send a message as to how people can celebrate festivals in an eco-friendly manner. 

2021 is the second consecutive year where the Covid 19 pandemic has put a halt to a large scale celebration for devotees in most parts of the country. 

Due to the ongoing rise of Covid 19 cases across the country, the government authorities will be imposing several strict social distancing measures as per government rules and regulations.

The reason behind these measures is the stark rise of Covid 19 cases, affecting citizens to a great degree. 

Before the Covid 19 outbreak in the country, the city filled itself with colour and enthusiastic people during these festivals and celebrations.

Bright, colourful pandals filled with statues of Ganesh are seen all over the towns where people celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.

After the festival, people carry the sculpted idols to the local rivers in huge processions, accompanied by loud drum beats followed by devotional singing and dancing, celebrating Lord Ganesha. 

Then, the people follow a ritual where they release the idols in the river, which symbolises Lord Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailas towards his parents Shiva and Parvathi. 

Despite the Covid 19 pandemic, people continue to celebrate Lord Ganesha in the comfort of their homes with a smile on a face.