Ganesha Chaturthi 2023: Date, Time, Sthapana Rituals & Significance
Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. It is on the fourth day of Bhadrapada, as per the Hindu lunar month, typically in August or September. During the festival, people pray to Lord Ganesha in homes and public pandals (temporary stages) for 10 days. Later, they immerse the idol in the water bodies. Joyous celebrations, feasting, and cultural events mark the festival. Know everything you must know to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2023.
Date, Time, and Muhurat to remember on Ganesh Chaturthi 2023
Ganesha Chaturthi in 2023 will be on Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Moreover, if you look at the Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat. It will begin at 11:01 AM and will last till 01:28 PM. The duration of the same will be for 02 Hours 27 Min. Furthermore, according to Hindu Panchang, the Ganesha Visarjan will be on Thursday, September 28, 2023. People must avoid Moon sighting a day before Ganesha Chaturthi. Thus, to avoid the Moon sighting, you must not look to the sky from 12:39 PM to 08:10 PM on Sep 18, 2023, mainly from 09:45 AM to 08:44 PM. Furthermore, the Chaturthi Tithi starts at 12:39 PM on Sep 18, 2023, and will end at 01:43 PM on Sep 19, 2023.
Ganesha Sthapana marks the beginning of the ten-day-long festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Here are the step-wise rituals to follow during Ganesha Sthapana on Ganesh Chaturthi 2023:
Before the arrival of Lord Ganesha, clean the house thoroughly and decorate it with flowers and rangoli.
Choose an auspicious time for the Ganesha Sthapana. A Hindu priest or astrologer usually decides this time.
Bring the idol of Lord Ganesha to your home or pandal. You can buy an eco-friendly idol or make one at home using clay.
Also, place a wooden or metal platform covered with a clean cloth for the idol.
Pran Pratishtha is a ritual where the priest invokes the divine presence of Lord Ganesha into the idol. You can also perform this ritual at home by offering prayers and chanting mantras.
Offer flowers, sweets, and fruits to the idol of Lord Ganesha or, in other words, perform naivedya.
Light a lamp in front of the idol and offer prayers.
Perform aarti by waving a lamp in front of the idol and singing hymns praising Lord Ganesha.
Ahead, chant mantras like ‘Om Ganeshaya Namaha’ or ‘Ganapati Bappa Morya’ to invoke his blessings.
In addition, offer prayers to Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings for a prosperous and happy life.
After the Ganesha Sthapana, follow the rituals for the next ten days. Offer prayers, perform aarti, and offer naivedya to Lord Ganesha daily.
On the tenth day, immerse the idol of Lord Ganesha in a water body while chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya’ which means ‘O Lord Ganesha, please come again next year quickly’. It marks the end of the festival.
Ganesha Mantras to chant on Ganesha Sthapana
Here are some powerful Ganesha mantras to chant during Ganesha Sthapana:
Om Gan Ganapataye Namaha: This mantra is a powerful Ganesha mantra that removes obstacles and seeks blessings. It means ‘I bow down to Lord Ganesha who is the remover of obstacles and bestower of blessings’.
Vakratunda Mahakaya: This mantra can remove negative energy and obstacles. It means ‘I bow down to Lord Ganesha, who has a curved trunk and a massive body’.
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha: This mantra brings success, prosperity, and good fortune. It means ‘I offer my prayers to Lord Ganesha’.
Ganesh Gayatri Mantra: This mantra seeks wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual growth. It means ‘Om Ekadantaya Vidmahe Vakratundaya Dhimahi Tanno Danti Prachodayat,’ which translates to ‘I meditate upon Lord Ganesha, who has a single tusk, and bow down to him with devotion’.
Om Shri Ganeshaya Namah: This is a simple and popular Ganesha mantra that anyone can chant. It means ‘I bow down to Lord Ganesha’.
Ganesha Mool Mantra: This mantra is the root mantra of Lord Ganesha. It means ‘Om Shreem Hreem Kleem Glaum Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Sarva Janamme Vashamanaya Svaha’ which translates to ‘I offer my prayers to Lord Ganesha who is the giver of boons, and seek his blessings’.
Ganesha Dwadasanama Stotram: This is a twelve-name prayer that lists twelve names of Lord Ganesha, each representing a unique aspect of his personality.
Bhog to make on Ganesha Chaturthi 2023 according to your zodiac sign
Here is what you should prepare for bhog to make for Lord Ganesha according to your zodiac sign on Ganesh Chaturthi 2023:
Aries: Aries connect with spicy and tangy foods. You can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like spicy chana dal, lemon rice, or tamarind rice.
Taurus: Taurus relates well with sweet and indulgent foods. You can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like sweet rice pudding, kheer, or laddoos.
Gemini: Gemini should go for light and refreshing foods. You can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like fruit salad, cucumber raita, or sprout salad.
Cancer: Cancer should try making comforting and nurturing foods. Thus, you can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like khichdi, dal, or vegetable stew.
Leo: On Ganesh Chaturthi 2023, Leo should go for rich and decadent foods. You can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like kheer, sweet rice, etc.
Virgo: Virgo must prepare healthy and wholesome foods on Ganesh Chaturthi 2023. You can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like vegetable raita, boondi raita, etc.
Libra: Libra relates better to balanced and harmonious foods. Thus, you can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like coconut sweet, mixed vegetable bhog, etc.
Scorpio: Scorpio relates better with bold and intense flavors. You can offer Lord Ganesha modak, ravdi, etc.
Sagittarius: Sagittarius relates better to exotic and adventurous foods. So, you can offer Lord Ganesha fruits custard, sweets with strong flavor, etc.
Capricorn: Capricorn relates better with simple and traditional foods. You can offer Lord Ganesha paneer dishes, Jalebi, Malpua, etc.
Aquarius: Aquarius relates better with unconventional and experimental foods. So, you can offer Lord Ganesha dishes like avocado-rich sweets, Anjeer mithai, etc.
Pisces: Pisces relates better with seafood and other water-related foods. Therefore, you can offer Lord Ganesha khoya sweets, modak, boondi laddoo, etc.
Rituals to perform Ganesha Visarjan 2023
Ganesha Visarjan is the final ritual of the 10-day-long festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. Devotees believe that Lord Ganesha returns to his abode after blessing his devotees during the festival. Here are the step-wise rituals to perform Ganesha Visarjan on the last day of Ganesh Chaturthi:
On the day of Ganesha Visarjan, perform the morning puja as usual. Offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha.
Decorate the idol of Lord Ganesha with flowers, garlands, and other decorations before the visarjan. Use eco-friendly materials for decoration.
While carrying the idol for visarjan, chanting devotional songs and mantras like “Ganpati Bappa Morya” and “Om Gan Ganpataye Namah”.
Before immersing the idol, perform the final aarti and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha.
Carry the idol in a procession toward the water body with the accompaniment of drums, bells, and other musical instruments.
After reaching the water body, immerse the idol of Lord Ganesha while chanting prayers and mantras.
After the immersion, offer final prayers and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha returns to his abode after the immersion.
In addition, after the visarjan, prepare a feast and share it with family and friends to mark the end of the festival.
Lord Ganesha is the God of wisdom, knowledge, and intellect. Moreover, he removes obstacles. Thus, people worship him at the beginning of every important task, ceremony, or ritual to seek his blessings for success and prosperity.
Moreover, the festival brings people together in joy and harmony, irrespective of their differences. People perform several rituals related to Lord Ganesha with great devotion and enthusiasm and bring good fortune and prosperity.
Ganesha Chaturthi has a significant cultural significance as well. People celebrate it with grandeur and pomp in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Hence, the festival illustrates street processions, cultural programs, and the exchange of sweets and gifts.
In Hindu astrology, Ganesha Chaturthi holds significant astrological significance. The positioning of the planets and stars during this time has a profound effect on the lives of individuals. Here are some astrological significances of Ganesha Chaturthi:
Auspicious time for new beginnings: According to Hindu astrology, Ganesha Chaturthi is an auspicious time to start new ventures or projects. Thus, initiating new things during this time will bring success and prosperity.
Lord Ganesha and the planet Jupiter: Lord Ganesha connects with Jupiter, the most benevolent planet in Hindu astrology. The blessings of Lord Ganesha during this festival will bring good fortune, wisdom, and prosperity.
The impact of the Moon: Ganesha Chaturthi occurs during the waxing phase of the Moon, a time of growth and development. Thus, performing rituals and offering prayers during this time will positively impact personal growth and development.
Spiritual significance: Ganesha Chaturthi is a time for spiritual growth and development. Thus, performing spiritual practices such as meditation, chanting mantras, and reading scriptures during this time will profoundly impact personal growth and development.
Why avoid seeing Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi?
In Hindu culture, there is a belief that one should not look at the Moon on the night of Ganesha Chaturthi. This belief is there for generations, and there are several reasons why this is an important ritual. Here are some reasons why one should avoid seeing the Moon on Ganesha Chaturthi 2023:
The story of Lord Krishna: According to Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna was falsely accused of stealing a valuable gem and punished with leprosy. The only way to get rid of the disease was to observe Ganesha Chaturthi with devotion. However, when he looked at the Moon on the night of the festival, the disease got worse. This is why people should avoid looking at the Moon on this day.
The lunar energy: According to Hindu astrology, the Moon pertains to emotions and mental stability. Its energy is powerful on Ganesha Chaturthi, and looking at the Moon can disturb this energy, causing mental instability and emotional turmoil.
The lunar calendar: Ganesha Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the Hindu lunar calendar, and the Moon is weak on this day. Thus, looking at the Moon on this day can bring bad luck and negative energy.
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