Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in India. The day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha for prosperity of wisdom and good fortune. This year, the ten-day Hindu festival will be celebrated from September 19 and will end on September 28.
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When is Ganesh Chaturthi September 18 or 19?
Worship of Lord Ganesha is done during Madhyahna as he is believed to be born during Madhyahna Kala. In terms of the Hindu division of days, Madhyahna Kala represents noon. According to Hindu mythology, God Ganesha was born in the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. Therefore, the celebration usually takes place in the Gregorian months of August and September. This year, the festival will be celebrated on September 19, 2023.
See all important dates related to this year’s festival in the table below.
An event | Date |
Ganesh Chaturthi | Tuesday, September 19, 2023 |
Chaturthi Tithi begins | 12:39 September 18, 2023 |
Chaturthi Tithi ends | 13:43 September 19, 2023 |
Ganesha Visarjan | Thursday, September 28, 2023 |
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What is the history of Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular and well-attended festivals in India and among Indian communities around the world. The public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi was started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in Pune in 1893, and it is not known when and how it was first celebrated. He laid the foundations of Ganeshotsav at the public level to unite the masses. The British were horrified by the large gathering of people and took all possible measures to stop the celebrations.
During this period, Lokmanya Tilak, an Indian freedom fighter, championed the event to circumvent the colonial British government’s Anti-Public Assembly Act of 1892, which banned Hindu gatherings. And soon Ganesh Chaturthi became a significant people’s movement in the campaign for independence.
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What is the significance of Ganesha Chaturthi?
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival honors Ganesha as the God of new beginnings and the removal of obstacles. It serves as a unifying factor, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds to celebrate as a single community, fostering a sense of solidarity and unity and bridging social and economic differences. Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of learning and intellect, is revered throughout India, particularly in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Goa. Apart from India, Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated in Nepal as well as by the Hindu diaspora in other countries including Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, other Caribbean countries, and the United States and Europe.
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Why is moon sighting prohibited on Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with different traditions including different dos and don’ts. One of those opportunities is observing the moon. Moon sighting on Ganesh Chaturthi is believed to result in Mithya Dosham or Mithya Kalanka which means a false accusation of stealing something. This is because God Chandra was cursed by Lord Ganesha that anyone who sees the moon on Shukla Chaturthi during Bhadrapada month will be afflicted with Mithya Dosha, will be defiled and will be slandered in society.
According to the epic, Lord Krishna was once accused of stealing a precious jewel named Syamantaka. Sage Narada, after witnessing Lord Krishna’s suffering, discovered that he was cursed with Mithya Dosha. On his advice, Lord Krishna thereafter undertook a fast on Ganesh Chaturthi to banish Mithya Dosha.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with extensive rituals, prayers and cultural events for 10 long days. Devotees place clay statues of Lord Ganesha in homes and public places and offer prayers, sweets and fruits. The idols were later immersed in water on the last day as a representation of the deity’s ascension back to his heavenly home. The festival represents the cycle of creation and dissolution and strengthens social ties and spirituality.
Important days and dates in September 2023
Categories: Trends
Source: vcmp.edu.vn