What is Ganesh Chaturthi?
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and new beginnings who removes obstacles. It falls on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada and is celebrated with great energy in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana and beyond.
Ten days of Ganeshotsav
Idols of Ganesha are welcomed into homes and huge public pandals, where he is worshipped for one and a half, five, seven or ten days. In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak turned the festival into a public celebration to bring people together during the freedom struggle. Mumbai's Lalbaugcha Raja draws millions of visitors.
Modak and visarjan
Ganesha's favourite sweet, the modak, is offered every day. On Anant Chaturdashi the idols are carried in processions with music and dancing and immersed in water, as crowds chant "Ganpati Bappa Morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya", asking him to come back soon next year.