Ganesh Chaturthi 2017: All you need to know about significance, tithi, bhog, Mahurat timings and Ganesh Visarjan

The beautiful festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is set to begin from today and the whole country will commemorate Lord Ganesha’s birthday. It’s one of the most colourful celebrations and continues for 10 days. The festival is observed by installing Lord Ganesha at homes for a period of 10 days after which it is immersed in the river. It will end on the 10th day, to signify his return to Mount Kailasha to his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Let’s have a look at some of the important aspects of the festival:

Significance and history of the festival:

Ganesh Chaturthi holds huge importance in states such as Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is believed that Goddess Parvati created little Ganesh using the dirt off her body while having a bath and asked him to guard the door while she was bathing. Lord Shiva, who had gone out, returned at that time.

Unknowingly, little Ganesh stopped him from entering. An enraged Lord Shiva severed the head of the little child after a heated argument. However, when he looked at a vexed Goddess Parvati, he promised her to give Ganesh a new life. 

The followers were sent to search for a head; however, all they could bring was a head of an elephant. Lord Shiva fixed the elephant's head on the child and brought him back to life. Thus he came to be known as Gajanan.

Live updates:  Lalbaugcha Raja witnesses rush of devotees on Ganesh Chaturthi

How is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated

Festivities happen on a large scale in Mumbai and Pune with the cities reverberating with the chants of ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’. Two-three months before the festival begins, beautiful clay models of Lord Ganesh are made by skilled artisans and sold in the markets. These statues depict Lord Ganesh in various poses. On the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, these statues are brought home with lot of excitement.

For the next 10 days, localities witness beautiful pandals with huge statues of Ganesh.The priests in every pandal perform holy rituals from then on. In the end, the Visarjan takes place as people pray that Ganpati may return to their homes in the upcoming year.

Prasad and Bhog 

Modak is the favourite food of the deity. The outer shelf is made using rice flour/wheat flour/maida and the filling consists of freshly grated coconut and jaggery. The modak is either fried or steamed. It is called modak in Marathi, Gujarati, and Konkani, Modhaka in Kannada, Kudumu in Telugu and Kozhakkattai in Tamil.

Ganesh Visarjan 2017 Dates:

# One and a half day of Ganesha Visarjan will fall on August 26, the next day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Here is the auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan for one and half day:

Auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan

Afternoon Muhurta (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 12:18 – 17:05

Evening Muhurta (Labh) = 18:41 – 20:05

Night Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 21:30 – 25:43+Early Morning Muhurta (Labh) = 28:31+ – 29:55+

# The third day of Ganesh Visarjan will fall on August 27. Here is the auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan for the third day:

Auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha VisarjanMorning Muhurta (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 07:31 – 12:18

Afternoon Muhurta (Shubh) = 13:53 – 15:29

Evening Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 18:40 – 22:54

Night Muhurta (Labh) = 25:43+ – 27:07 + Early Morning Muhurta (Shubh) = 28:32+ – 29:56+

# The fifth day of Ganesha Visarjan will fall on August 29.  Here is the auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan for the fifth day:

Morning Muhurta (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 09:07 – 13:52

Afternoon Muhurta (Shubh) = 15:27 – 17:03

Evening Muhurta (Labh) = 20:03 – 21:28

Night Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 22:53 – 27:07+

# The seventh day of Ganesha Visarjan will fall on August 31. Here is the auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan for the seventh day:

Morning Muhurta (Shubh) = 05:58 – 07:32, Morning Muhurta (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 10:42 – 15:26

Evening Muhurta (Amrit, Char) = 17:01 – 21:26

Night Muhurta (Labh) = 24:17+ – 25:42 + Early Morning Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit) = 27:08+ – 29:58+

# The tenth day of Ganesha Visarjan will fall on September 5. Here is the auspicious Choghadiya Muhurat for Ganesha Visarjan for the tenth  day:

Morning Muhurta (Char, Labh, Amrit) = 09:08 – 13:49

Afternoon Muhurta (Shubh) = 15:22 – 16:56

Evening Muhurta (Labh) = 19:56 – 21:23

Night Muhurta (Shubh, Amrit, Char) = 22:49 – 27:08+

Chaturdashi Tithi Begins = 14:44 on 4/Sep/2017

Chaturdashi Tithi Ends = 15:11 on 5/Sep/2017