These ten days are explanatory days about the cycle of birth, death and a path to spirituality to the human kind.
Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. He is known by many other names like- Vinayak which means a leader. He is often known as Vighanharta -remover of obstacles. He is lovingly known as Bappa which means father.
Why is Ganesha known as Vighnaharta?
As the name Vighnaharta means remover of obstacles, there revolves a story around this power of Bappa. It began when Lord Ganesha was asked by the Gods and Goddesses to get a round of whole universe but the vehicle of Bappa is mouse. It is impossible to travel the universe on mouse, he then smartly and respectfully gave a round around Maa Parvati and Lord Shiva, said that his father (Shankara) and his mother (Maa Parvati) is the whole universe for him.
When this was observed by the deities, they selected Lord Ganesha as the one who will be prayed before any other God at the time of starting any work. The point of praying to him the first is to remove the obstacles from the way of a devotee, therefore he is known as Vighnaharta.
Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
The story behind celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi goes back to when Lord Ganesha was there to guard a door behind which Maa Parvati was taking a bath. Lord Shiva arrives there and asks his son to get aside and give him a way to get inside. Lord Ganesha stopped him.
Lord Shiva in anger cut his head, Maa Parvati got angry with Lord Shiva and asked him to get his son back. Then Shankara asks his men to go to the jungle and put a head of any animal in a limited span of time on Ganesha’s neck. Then, they went to a forest, found an elephant and then put his head on bappa’s neck.
This was a rebirth hence celebrated as Ganesha Chaturthi worldwide with love and devotion.
Bappa’s Idol and reason to keep it for 10 days?
As a ritual on every Ganesh Chaturthi, people around the globe welcome Bappa with happiness, joy and peace with drums and a grand celebration. He is kept for 10 days and offered with pooja, love and Bhogs.
He is kept for 10 days. The reason behind this is, it is said that this is a time period when Ganesha visits the earth and stays for these days to bless his devotees and prosper the households.
These ten days are explanatory days about the cycle of birth, death and a path to spirituality to the human kind.
