Ganesh Chaturthi in 2024: Date, Time and Rituals of the Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular festivals in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and other western states of India. Over the years, it has slowly gained popularity in other parts of the country, too. It celebrates the arrival, stay and departure of Lord Ganesha in our homes and hearts. It involves the community at large through pandals or tents where large idols of Lord Ganesha are installed. It also goes by the name of Vinayak Chaturthi. Ganesh Chaturthi 2024, as always, will be celebrated with the same spirit of joy and devotion that is such an essential part of this lively festival.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 is traditionally celebrated in the lunar month Bhadrapada, wherein the festivities start on the fourth day of Shukla paksha. According to the English Calendar, it will fall on 7^th September 2024 this year. The festival lasts for 10 days and ends on the 11^th day with the visarjan, or immersion of the idols in rivers or in the sea.

The immersion day is known as Anant Chaturdashi or the 14^th day of Bhadrapada, Shukla paksh. This year, it will fall on 17^th September, 2024. However, the Chaturthi itself will begin at 3:31 p.m. on 6^th September and will last till 5:37 p.m. on 7^th September. It is customary for the festival to be celebrated the next day in the event of the tithi starting later in the day according to the Panchang or Hindu calendar.

Installation of the idol will be held with chanting of mantras on the Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 date. This ‘Pranpratishtha’ ceremony, which means invoking the spirit of the Lord in the idol, will be held during the Madhyahna puja time, i.e., from 11:10 a.m. to 1:39 p.m. This is considered the most auspicious time to perform pranpratishtha (consecration), as the Lord is said to have been created during this period. We invite Lord Ganesh to be our guest for the next few days through this ceremony. So, Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 date and time will be between 11:10 a.m. and 1:39 p.m. on the 7^th.

Why We Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi?

Lord Ganesha has a special place in Hindu worship. He is granted the boon of being invoked or worshipped at the start of every puja or before beginning any auspicious work. He is known as ‘vighnharta’, or remover of obstacles. He is also the God of intelligence and known as ‘margdarshak’, or one who guides you to the right path. Besides, Ganesh ji also brings prosperity for his devotees.

Let us look at why Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days. Lord Ganesh was born on Bhadrapada Chaturthi, Shukla paksh. Therefore, this day is dedicated to him and marks the beginning of the Ganesh Utsav. The 10-day cycle represents the creation, preservation and dissolution or death cycle.

The installation of the idols represents the creation or birth stage. The preservation stage is the next ten days in which devotees pay homage to Lord Ganesh through prayers and aarti. This symbolises life and our attachment to it. The visarjan on the 11^th day is the end of the cycle where the Lord leaves, taking all the sorrows and hurdles from the lives of his devotees and blessing them with prosperity and wisdom.

When we bid farewell to our dear Lord whom we have consecrated in our homes, we request him to come again the next year. This festival teaches us the cyclic principles of life, death and rebirth.

The extended period and the involvement of people from all strata of society in Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 will also allow for bonding. Joint worship, the organisation of various cultural events, and singing bhajans and aarti together foster deep unity within the whole community.

Rituals To Be Followed in Ganesh Chaturthi 2024

Orders for large idols that are to be placed in tents were ordered more than a month ago. The idols are a work of art with intricate details made painstakingly by the artists. Along with its religious and cultural significance, Ganesh Chaturthi offers an opportunity for artists to show their creativity by creating idols.

Idols placed in pandals or tents are worshipped together with all invited. The consecration ceremony includes, among others, the shodashopchara (16 rituals). It is customary to read different scriptures related to the birth and life of Lord Ganesh. These are from the Rig Veda, Ganpati Atharvashirsa, and Ganesh Stotra. Aarti is performed two times daily, and everyone participates freely.

The 11^th day of immersion consists of large processions in which Ganesh idols are taken to the nearest water body. While devotees may carry small idols, people often transport them in mini trucks or wooden chariots. During Ganesh Chaturthi 2024, fervent religious songs and dances will be essential to the procession. The idols will be immersed in the water with devotees shouting requests to Lord Ganesh to return the next year again.

The tradition of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival began under the rule of King Shivaji of the Marathas. During British rule, it became a private puja to be held in homes only. However, Lokmanya Tilak re-instated it in its public form as an assertion of Hindu identity and to foster unity among Hindus.

However, a question that worries devotees generally is how to perform Ganesh Chaturthi puja at home. Let’s examine what is required.

Most people bring Lord Ganesh idols home on Chaturthi or the day before. Some prefer to use the existing idol that they have at home.
The idol is placed on a pedestal above the ground or the spot used for daily puja.
The place where it is to be placed is cleaned thoroughly and decorated beautifully with red cloth, flowers and lights.
Generally, five yellow flowers are offered to Lord Ganesh when he is placed on the asana or pedestal.
Incense and lamps are lit to purify the area.
First of all, the feet of the idol are washed with water as a sign of respect.
To cleanse the idol, it is bathed in panchamrit, which consists of curd, honey, ghee, and sugar. This is followed by soaking the idol with clean, holy water.
The idol is then dressed in new clothes. Vermillion and sandal paste are applied to the forehead, and flower garlands are offered.
A special pranpratishtha puja is done to invoke the Lord in the idol. Some people prefer to engage a pandit for this particular puja.
Foods dear to the Lord, such as modak, laddoo, coconut, fruits, durva or doob grass, Shami patra, jaggery and other sweets, are offered to him and distributed as prasad.
Regular aarti that includes singing hymns in praise and a lit lamp is carried out twice daily.
The duration of the stay varies in homes from one and a half days to three, five, seven, or ten days. The tradition varies in different families.
Symbolic immersion in buckets of water may be done due to environmental concerns or when no water body is nearby.

Conclusion

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 celebrations will yet again bring people together to worship, unite and reinforce their cultural roots. It also reminds everyone of the cyclic nature of life wherein creation, preservation and dissolution are inevitable. These rituals that have been passed down from generations help to bring about positivity in everyone’s lives. The festive mood, cultural events and religious fervour that colour the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi bring about a sense of happiness in society at large.

So, let us vow to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 with full devotion and in a spirit of solidarity.

If you are concerned about the upcoming events of your life or wish to have your horoscope read, get in touch with the best Jyotishi in Gurgaon, Pandit Pawan Kaushik.