Vinayaka Chaturthi 2023: Some Enlightening And Interesting Facts

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Also known as Ganesh Chaturthi, Vinayak Chaturthi is one of those rare festivals which are celebrated by all the worshippers from all corners who come together and celebrate it like family.

Fasting is a part of the ritualistic scenario. Vinayak Chaturthi falls on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Ashadha, on 22 June 2023, this year.

Ganesha if pleased with the worshipper's devotion, blesses him with victory over obstacles, bestows knowledge and helps him acquire wealth.Let us run through a list of his leelas.

Shhodashopachara or a 16-step puja ritual is observed during Vinayaka Chaturthi.

Lord Ganesha is also worshiped in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Nepal, and China.

It is not only Modak that is Ganesha's popular dish, Puran poli also comes under the same list of his favourite dishes. One more sweet called Karanji is also offered to Lord Ganesha.

Lord Ganesha is known to be a bachelor God but he is shown with two wives in his photos and in temples.
For the first time, Shivaji Maharaj patronised this festival. Peshwas continued it. Much later Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived this festival.

Lord Shiva declared him to be above all gods and hence he receives the first puja before the actual puja to any other God begins.

It is believed that reciting 108 names of Lord Ganesha during the festival brings good luck to the devotees.
Ganesha is the ancestral deity of Shivaji Maharaj,

China worships a deity called 'Kangi Ten' which resembles Ganesha. He also figures in Indonesia's Rs 20,000 currency note.

Cambodia worships 'Prah Kenes which shows Ganesha with wide ears, no neck, no kireeta and no protruding belly.

One of the legends about his birth says that he was born out of the dirt of Goddess Parvathi's body. Another legend says that he was created by Shiva and Parvati at the request of Devas who wanted him to create a obstacle creator and obstacle diffuser to help the devas in their battles with asuras.

Vedic hymns are chanted throughout the puja ritual. His 108 names are repeated as it is showers good luck on the devotees.

Once Ganesha saw his mother Durga eating food in a rushed manner. Unable to see this, Ganesha asked her why. Goddess Durga shot a question back at him asking him what would be his plight if his wife did not give him enough food to eat.

As a response Ganesha cut a banana tree and presented it before Durga and told her that was her daughter in law. From then onwards during Durga puja, a banana tree is wrapped in a saree and Kumkum is applied after which it is placed on the right side of Ganesha as his wife

Lord Ganesha wrote the Epic Mahabharata on behalf of Vyasa Maharshi. While writing, his feather quill broke and hence he pulled his tusk and continued writing with it.

Lord Ganesha is also worshipped by Buddhists who refer to him as Vinayaka and worship him in Tibet, China, and Japan. Devotees pray to him for wisdom, knowledge and blessings for removal of obstacles and achievement of dreams.

South Indians believe him to be a bachelor where as it is believed that he was married to twins Riddhi and Siddhi and got two sons shubh and labh from them.