Happy Ganesha Day, September 13, 2018

Happy Ganesha Day, September 13, 2018 

Congratulations to all the readers and fans of this small virtual space that has grown so much. Thanks to you, this year we celebrate Ganesha Day on September 13, 2018, just days before the Full Moon of September. As you may know, Lord Ganesha, the obstacle-removing God is one of the most popular deities in India and it is he who provides health, wisdom, prosperity, fortune, and success, for which it is usually invoked and celebrated before the realization of any task and the beginning of any project.

Procession of Lord Ganesha in Surat (Gujarat, India)

The "Ganesh Chaturthi" (also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, Ganesa Caturthī or Vinayaka Chavithi) is the Hindu festival held in honor of the elephant-headed god, Ganesha. These celebrations traditionally begin the fourth day of the first fortnight (Shukla Chaturthi) in the month of Bhadrapada of the Hindu calendar, usually August or September in the Gregorian calendar. This wonderful festival has a duration of between ten and eleven days, which puts an end to the fourteen days of the fortnight (Anant Chaturdashi).

The festival is celebrated in public and at home. The public celebration involves the installation of Ganesha clay images in temporary public sanctuaries and group worship. In the house, a clay image is placed and it is adored by family and friends. At the end of the party, the idols are immersed (and dissolve) in a water source, like a lake or pond.

Lord Ganesha (or simply Ganesh) son of Shiva (the destroyer God of the Universe) and Parvati (Goddess ruler of Hindu spirituality), is currently one of the most recognized gods of the Hindu pantheon, being widely revered as an obstacle remover, patron of the arts, the sciences and the lord of abundance. Lord Ganesha is considered the incarnation of wisdom. He is worshiped as a destroyer of all obstacles and no bid is made without worshiping him beforehand.

We worship day and night the Lord who has the face of an elephant, who has only one tusk, which is the sun for the lotus face of his mother Parvati, and who is the giver of many blessings to his devotees.

If you wish to worship and thus attract the energy of Ganesha during this Celebration Day, you can wear loose garments of vibrant and cheerful colors, burn incense with fruity and floral aroma at the entrance of your home, light-colored aromatic candles on your altar next to the image of Ganesh and meditate in the hours before sunset to connect with his followers in all parts of the world.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi / Happy Ganesha Festival for all.

With Love, Elhoim.