New Delhi, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : Ganesh Chaturthi is a revered festival in Indian culture, honoring Lord Ganesha as the deity of wisdom, prosperity, and the remover of obstacles. Celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of the month of Bhadrapada, this festival is marked with deep devotion across the country. However, in southern states, the celebration transcends beyond just welcoming Ganesha; it symbolizes the sacred relationship between Mother Gauri and her son, Ganesh.
In South India, particularly in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the festivities begin a day earlier with ‘Gauri Habba’, dedicated to worshiping Goddess Parvati. On this day, married women create idols of Gauri from turmeric and offer prayers for the well-being of their families. The following day, they joyously welcome Lord Ganesh.
According to ancient texts, Goddess Gauri is considered the most powerful incarnation of the primordial energy, Mahamaya. It is believed that the third day of the bright half of Bhadrapada marks the arrival of Devi Gauri, followed by the celebration of her son, Lord Ganesh.
In northern India, this festival is also known as Hartalika, primarily observed by married women who don new traditional sarees to worship the goddess. They craft an idol of Gauri from turmeric, adorning it with mango flowers and leaves.
During Ganesh Chaturthi, eco-friendly clay idols of Ganesha are installed in homes and temples across South India. The rituals involve traditional mantras and the performance of ‘prana-pratishtha’ and ‘shodashopachara’ worship. Along with Ganesha’s favorite sweet, modak, special dishes are prepared in the region. In Tamil Nadu, ‘kozhukattai’, made from rice flour and coconut-jaggery, holds significant importance. Other offerings include papadam, modak, vada, and payasam.
The trend of public celebrations, similar to Maharashtra, is now common in many areas. However, in several places in South India, families conduct worship for one, three, or five days before immersing the Ganesha idol in local water bodies, such as rivers or the sea. Notable Vinayak temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala host special vehicle services and festivities during this time.
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