Known by different names, including Ganesh Chathurthi, Ganesh Utsav, Vinayaka Chathurthi, this festival is celebrated with much fervour across the country. It is a ten day Hindu festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity GANESHA. The festival celebrates Ganesha as the God of New beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles and God of Wisdom and Prosperity.
It begins on the fourth day - Chathurthi of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), the sixth month of the Hindu calendar.
At the start of the festival, clay murtis of Ganesha are placed on raised platforms in home or in elaboratory decorated panthals. The murtis are decorated with red sandalwood paste and yellow and red flowers. Ganesha is also offered Coconut, Jaggery and 21 modaks (sweet dumplings / kozhakkattai), considered to be Ganesha's favourite food.
At the conclusion of the festival idols are carried to local rivers in huge processions accompanied by drum beats, devotional singing and dancing. They are immersed, a ritual called Visarjan symbolizing Ganesha's homeward journey to Mount Kailas, the abode of his parents - Shiva and Parvati.
