The Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi begins on August 25 and ends on September 5 after ten days, as per the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. The festival is celebrated in the honour of the elephant-God, Ganesha’s birthday. Ganpati, the younger son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is known by 108 different names. On Anant Chaturdashi, devotees who bought idols of Ganesha to their homes amidst huge celebrations finally part ways with him by immersing him in water bodies, which is marked as a send off back to his parents. Special prayers and delicacies are made in honor of the festival. Generally, people bid adieu to the samuhik or public idols after ten days of celebrations.
Anant Chaturdashi in 2017 is on Tuesday, the 5th of September. Anant Chaturdashi is performed on the fourteenth day (Chaturdashi) of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad.
Anant Chaturdashi has two main significances. The first is that on this day is that it is the day of the immersion of Ganpati (also called Ganapati Visarjan). On this day, the festival of Ganpati comes to an end; the installed murtis of Lord Ganpati are taken to a lake, river or a sea in great processions to be immersed in the waters. Thus Lord Ganesha is departed, only to be welcomed the next year with equal excitement in the next year.
The second reason for Anant Chaturdashi is that on this day people recite and listen to the stories and legends of God Vishnu who is Anant, the infinite and recite hymns from the Vedas. This is sometimes also called Ananta Vrat.
The celebration is the most extravagant affair one has ever seen. People from all over the world come to India to witness it. People move slowly in processions dancing to the crazy beats of dhols, they carry the idols in huge trucks that are beautifully decorated with flowers of all colours, all the members of one procession are colour coordinated so as to avoid getting lost in the sea of devotees, they all play with powder colours by applying them on each other and throwing it in the air. The quirky music, the carefree dancing, the vivid colours and so much more make the festival what it is. It brings out the spiritual side out of us, yet does not leave the fun element.
Anant Chaturdashi is considered an awe-inspiring festival around many parts in India and is seen celebrated by a mix cultural audience. In order to experience diversity at it’s best, this occasion is a must on the checklist.
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