A brief overview of Ganesh Chaturthi 2025
The auspicious festival of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of good fortune, prosperity and wisdom. In 2025, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on 26th August 2025. Lord Ganesha is revered as the extractor of obstacles or Vighnaharta, the god of good fortune, prosperity and wisdom.
This article will take you through the significance of Puranas, the origin of the festival, the relevance of this festival with India's freedom struggle, the places where the festival is celebrated and also the rituals.
The origin of Ganesh Chaturthi
Contribution of Chhatrapati Shivaji
Ganesh Chaturthi celebration stems from the reign of the valiant warrior belonging to the Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He embraced and promoted it as a symbol of cultural pride and unity, and also to strengthen the legacy and heritage of the Maratha.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s role in the public Ganesh festival
The history of grandeur celebration in Ganesh Chaturthi is linked with the freedom struggle of India. People have been praying to Lord Ganesha in Maharashtra since the time of the Peshwa, the Maratha generals. However, Ganesh Chaturthi became a public gathering and event because of the freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
He wanted to bring people together in India for independence. Through his Marathi newspaper, “Kesari”, he appealed to the leaders to make the Ganesh Chaturthi into a public event. In 1984, the Ganesha festival was organised for the first time as a public event in Pune.
The story related to the birth of lord Ganesh
It was said that Lord Ganesha was sculpted from earth by Maa Parvati. She put life into him and accepted him as his son. One day, she asked Ganesh to guard the palace gate. Lord Ganesh was not aware of his father, Lord Shiva, at that time, and he barred him from entering the palace. This made Lord Shiva angry, and he beheaded Ganesh. Later, he realised his mistake when Maa Parvati told him about Lord Ganesh.
So to correct his mistake, he affixed the face of an elephant on Ganesha’s head and brought him back to life. This is the way Lord Ganesha was born.
Also read: Bhavishya Malika: The Ancient Prophecies of Achyutananda Das
Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi from the Puranas
Shiv Purana
Lord Ganesha came into existence through sandalwood paste by Maa Parvati through sandalwood paste. According to the Shiv Puran, goddess Parvati created Lord Ganesha to protect her while bathing. After that, Lord Shiva beheaded Lord Ganesha unknowingly, but he rectified this mistake by placing the head of an elephant on Lord Ganesha to revive his life.
It reflects the protection and maintenance of divine energies.
Ganesha Purana
The Ganesha Purana mentions Lord Ganesha's birth, where Goddess Parvati created him with the dust of her body. This purana also narrates that Lord Ganesha was also known as Gajanana because he was revived with the head of an elephant.
Mudgala Purana
Mudgala Purana has highlighted eight incarnations of Lord Ganesha, which are relevant to understanding his role in dealing with negative human qualities. The eight incarnations represent unique powers, such as protection, prosperity, and success, and are known as Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajavaktra (also known as Gajanana), Vikata, Lambodara, Dhumravarna, and Vighnaraja.
Where will Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 be celebrated?
Mumbai
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as a Ganeshotsav in Maharashtra, is a vibrant and grand festival celebrated for 10 long days. People welcome the idols of Lord Ganesh in their homes, offices and public spaces and perform prayers, various rituals and cultural performances. One of the iconic symbols of Mumbai’s Ganesh Chaturthi, Lalbaugcha Raja, attracts many devotees every year.
Andhra Pradesh
The people of Andhra Pradesh observe this festival as the Gowri festival. Generally, they prefer to prepare the Ganesh murti or idols with clay and turmeric. Some people also worship the Ganesh idol made with plaster of Paris.
Goa
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 in Goa will be celebrated as “Chovoth”, which is a grand festival associated with the traditional rituals, dance, music and preparation of special bhoga for Lord Ganesha, like savoury items and modakas.
Global territories
Indian diaspora in the various global territories like the United Kingdom, United States of America, Mauritius and even Pakistan. It ultimately makes Ganesh Chaturthi a worldwide festival of culture and faith.
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 rituals
Pranpratishtha
The Lord Ganesha's idol will be installed in the pandals and homes to invoke divine energy through rituals and mantras.
Shodashopachara
The 16 forms of different offerings with the flowers, lamps, sweets and prayers are generally concentrated by the devotees for the Lord daily.
Offering Modak
Modak or sweet dumpling is one of the significant bhogas prepared by devotees during Ganesh Chaturthi as it is deemed to be his favourite.
Aarti and bhajans
Devotees do prayers by performing Aarti, in which they sing various hymns every morning and evening in Ganesh Chaturthi.
Ganesh visarjan
On the final day of Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesha's idol is immersed in water, and devotees chant Ganpati Bappa morya, Mangal Murti morya. It manifests the cycle of creation and dissolution.
Way forward
Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 is not only about installing the Lord Ganesha's idol and following the rituals, but this festival also reconnects the Puranas, culture and community. Traced back to the Puranas, embraced across the globe and revitalised by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Ganesh Chaturthi reminds us of unity, power and wisdom. This Ganesh Chaturthi 2025 may remove all obstacles and promise a new beginning and prosperity.