Ganesh Chaturthi

Culture of origin: Hindu · Cultural

Holiday sources: Hinduism

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Ganesha, the god of new beginnings and remover of obstacles. His images (murtis) are installed in homes and on elaborate public stages (pandals) and worshipped with hymns, fasting and sweets such as modak, held to be his favourite. On the tenth day, Anant Chaturdashi, they are carried in procession with music and chanting and immersed in a river or the sea. Bal Gangadhar Tilak made it a great public festival in the late 19th century, a way round the British ban on public assemblies. Drik Panchang prefers midday (madhyahna) for the puja, as Ganesha is believed to have been born then.