India is celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with large gatherings at temples and pandals, honoring the beloved elephant-headed deity.

New Delhi: Today marks the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, a highly anticipated and revered Hindu festival across India. The air is filled with excitement and devotion as devotees welcome beautifully crafted idols of Lord Ganesha into their homes and public pandals to kick off the 10-day festival. Cities across the country are adorned with elaborate decorations, brightly lit pandals, and a variety of devotional rituals and cultural programs, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Devotees gather to offer prayers, flowers, sweets, and other traditional offerings to Lord Ganesha, the deity of wisdom, prosperity and new beginnings. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is dedicated to celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is traditionally invoked before important undertakings as he is believed to bring good fortune. The celebrations will come to an end on September 25 with Anant Chaturdashi, when devotees will bid farewell to the deity through immersion processions.

The origins of Ganesh Chaturthi can be traced back to Keshavji Nayak Chawl in Girgaum, Mumbai in 1893, where freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak initiated the first 'sarvajanik' Ganeshotsav. This initiative was aimed at uniting people and garnering public support for India's freedom struggle. However, the Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Trust maintains that the public celebration of Ganeshotsav in Pune was started by Bhausaheb Rangari in 1892, making the origins of the festival a matter of historical significance for both Mumbai and Pune.

In Pune, devotees witnessed the arrival ceremony of Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, considered to be Hindustan's first public Ganpati. The event was marked by the rhythmic beats of dhol-tasha and saw a large number of devotees in attendance. Special prayers were also held at the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple as part of the festivities.

In Mumbai, various prominent Ganesh pandals and temples, such as Lalbaugcha Raja at Lalbaug, Tejukaya Mandal in Lalbaug, Ganesh Gully in Lalbaug, GSB Seva Mandal at Matunga-Kings' Circle, Andheri-cha-Raja, Shri Bal Gopal Ganesh Utsav Mandal at Marine Lines, and many more, have been adorned with dazzling lights and intricate decorations. Thousands of devotees have flocked to the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja for darshan, patiently waiting in long queues for a glimpse of Bappa. The renowned Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai has also been magnificently adorned for the festival, adding to the festive and devotional atmosphere in the city.

In Nagpur, a large number of devotees gathered at the famous Ganesh Tekdi Temple, standing in long queues to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha for happiness, prosperity, peace, and overall well-being. Speaking to IANS, a devotee shared, "The ongoing 10-day festival has attracted a huge crowd. Our main goal is to ensure that every devotee is able to have a proper darshan of the deity, and we have made appropriate arrangements for that.

Separate queues have been set up for men and women, and we have also arranged e-rickshaws and EV vehicles for the elderly to be transported from one place to another." Another devotee spoke about the spiritual significance of the festival and the joy that surrounds the celebrations. "We came here for Ganesh Chaturthi and had darshan at the temple. The atmosphere here is so cheerful and delightful.

The true essence of Ganesh Chaturthi is to seek Lord Ganesha's blessings to overcome our troubles and spread happiness to others," the devotee added. IANS Orissa POST - Odisha's No.1 English Daily