Ganesh Chaturthi

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Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav or the birthday of Lord Ganesha is usually observed in the month of Bhadrapada according to Hindu calendar. The date falls between August 20th to September 15th . The festival lasts for 10 long days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi. It is celebrated in great vigor all over the country especially in Maharashtra.

Festival Rituals
Lord Ganesha's clay model is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. The idol size varies from an inch to over 25 feet. On the day of the festival it is placed on a raised platforms inside the home or on flamboyantly decorated outdoor tents for people to pay their homage. The priests invokes life into the idol of the elephant-headed God of wisdom and prosperity by chanting mantras. Coconut, 21 modakas made by rice flour, 21 durva (trefoil) blades, jaggery, and red flowers are offered to the idol. Then the idol is anointed with red unguent. Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra are chanted throughout the ceremony

After worshiping Ganesha for 10 long days the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made on the 11th day. The same day the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with gusto dancing and singing, to be immersed in a nearby river or the sea. The act symbolizes a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all men. All join in this final procession shouting, with a raised arm, "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year).

Story of Ganesha's birth
Traditional stories state that, Ganesha was created by goddess Parvati. It is believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure out of sandalwood paste that she used for bathing and breathed her life into the figure. She called him Vinayaka. She then asked him to guard the entrance while she bathed. The obedient child, listened to his creators command and guarded efficiently. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash god Shiva chose that very moment to meet his beloved wife. However he was stopped by the young lad who was guarding with great vigor. Enraged by the act of the little boy Shiva cut his neck only to discover that he had killed his own son. Alas, his head could not be found. A quick fix was sought, and it was decided that the first living creatures head would be used to bring the boy back to life. Accordingly, the boy was fitted with the head of an elephant.

Shiva blessed the lad and announced triumphantly to worship him on that day. Thus the Ganesha festival marks the day, when the little Vinayaka was blessed back to life.

Role Of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Freedom fighter, 'Bal Gangadhar Tilak' reshaped the annual Ganesh festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event as Lord Ganesha had a wide appeal as 'the god for Everyman'. He brought Ganesha on the streets to to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins during the late 18th century. In his nationalist striving against the British in Maharashtra he was successful in building grassroots unity. He was the first individual to install large public images of Ganesha in pavillions, and he established the practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day.