Who Started Ganpati Festival?

The most endearing Ganpati Festival in India is Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated with great fervor and gusto. But have you ever thought who initiated Ganpati Festival, and how did it reach this high level of celebration in Maharashtra? In this blog, we would take you through the origin, significance, and reasons of celebration of this wonderful fest, all written in a way that's made for children.

Who is Lord Ganesha?

Before we come to who initiated the Ganpati Festival, let's first know who Lord Ganesha is. He is definitely one of the most popular and revered gods in Hinduism. Lions, actually, consider him the remover of obstacles—the god of wisdom and the bringer of good fortune. With his elephant head, big belly, and kind eyes, he becomes dear to children and adults in no time.

Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva, who is the god of destruction, and Goddess Parvati, the goddess of love and devotion. There are various interesting stories in connection with Ganesha of how he got his elephant head and his importance in man myths and tales. Palms are first opened in front of this god then any other god or goddess while performing various rituals by Hindus because he is the lord of new and fresh beginning.

Who Started Ganpati Festival?

The question as to who started Ganpati Festival is not only interesting but its answer takes us back to ancient times as well more recent history.

1. Ancient Origins

It is believed that the worship of Lord Ganesha began thousands of years ago. Evidence is found of Ganesha worship in ancient Hindu texts and temples. Worship during those early times was of a more personal and family nature, revering Ganesha inside homes.

However, the large-scale public celebration of Ganpati Festival, as we see today, has more recent roots. So, who started Ganpati Festival in the way we know it now?

2. Who Started Ganpati Festival in Maharashtra?

The credit for starting the public celebration of Ganpati Festival in Maharashtra goes to a great leader named Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. But why did he start Ganpati Festival? Let's find out.

Why We Celebrate Ganpati Festival

Now that we have talked about who started Ganpati Festival in Maharashtra, lets know more about why we celebrate Ganpati Festival.

1. The Religious Importance

This festival is observed by venerating the birth of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Ganesha descends to the Earth at that time not only to bless but also purify of all hurdles in life. It is a 10-day festival that takes place starting on the fourth of Bhadrapada, which is the fourth month of the Hindu lunar calendar, on the fourth day of the fortnight starting from the full moon day, and lasts until the immersion of Ganesha idols in water.

During these days, exquisitely crafted idols of Lord Ganesha are brought and installed at home. Houses are cleaned and beautified with everyone praying before the idols. Hymns are sung in adoration, and special sweets like modaks are prepared as they happen to be the favorite of Lord Ganesha. This festival is found to be characterized by joys, devotions, and community bonding.

2. The Contribution of Lokmanya Tilak

While the religious aspect of why we celebrate Ganpati Festival is significant, there's also a strong historical and social reason behind its public celebration.

India throughout the late 19th century was under British solicitude. The British authorities, being rather strict in their approach, ensured that assemblies for a large number of gatherings of Indians are discouraged, if not banned, at every cost to avert every possible chance of them uprising against their rule. It was during this time that Lokmanya Tilak, a freedom fighter and a social reformer, got the idea to derive a benefit from the festivity of Ganpati Festival.

In 1893, he took the idea of celebrating the Ganpati Festival as a public event. So, he advocated the celebration by a huge public, not in one's own residence alone, but in public places. That was a brilliant way to unite the people and foment community feelings and feelings of nationalism without directly confronting the British rulers.

So, in today's public form, who inaugurated Ganpati Festival? Lokmanya Tilak had turned it into a spiritually uniting festival and then also, politically uniting. That is why Ganpati Festival is celebrated in such a grand way, more so in Maharashtra.

What Is an Objective of Ganpati Festival?

So, to actually know who inaugurated Ganpati Festival and why we are celebrating, you must know the thoughts behind this.

1. Religious Devotion

The primary objective of the Ganpati Festival is to worship Lord Ganesha by asking for blessings for insight, the grace of wealth, and for removing the obstacles in our life. The festival ought to be the period for spiritual reflections, prayers, and revitalized commitment to living a righteous and kindly life.

2. Unity and Community

As we learnt, who started Ganpati Festival in its public form and why we celebrate Ganpati Festival today is deeply connected to the idea of bringing people together. By arranging public events, Tilak had intentions of creating a friendly relationship among the Indian people. The festival becomes a medium to all the people where different social and cultural activities takes place, ideas were shared and a feeling of community was built up.

3. Nationalism

The festival was also aimed at arousing feeling of nationalism in Indians, particularly in the days of Lokmanya Tilak. It was one way of propagating their freedom and self-governing. Through the celebration of this one single cultural occasion, the peoples' common heritage was emphasized and the work towards the freedom of the nation came to mind.

4. Social and Cultural Awareness

Ganpati Festival also provides an excellent platform to promote social causes and cultural awareness. Different types of cultural programs, debates, and discussions are also arranged during the festival. This helps to highlight serious concerns. This is very much prevalent today as themes like conversation of the environment, education, and social harmony are emphasized during the celebrations.

How Is Ganpati Festival Celebrated?

Now that we understand who started Ganpati Festival and what is an objective of Ganpati Festival, let's take a look at how it is celebrated today.

1. Bringing Home the Idol

This follows the making and establishment of a well-carved idol of Lord Ganesha at one's place. Idols are generally made of clay and the utmost care is taken while crafting them by making them colorful and as lively and clear in detail as one can. A few families retain the idols for one and a half days, whereas many others retain it for as long as 10 days.

2. House Decoration

Once the idol is brought home, families decorate their homes with flowers, lights, and colorful rangolis. Special decoration surrounds the place where the idol is kept, creating a beautiful and festive atmosphere.

3. Prayers and Offerings

Every single day of the festival, the families join in offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. They provide chanting of hymns, singing of bhajans (devotional songs), and offering of different sweets, fruits, and flowers to the idol.There is a steamed or fried dumpling with coconut and jaggery. It is highly valued as Ganesh's favorite sweet.

4. Cultural Events

At many places, temporary stages, or public pandals, get erected where large idols of Ganesha are placed. In many of these pandals, the organizers also arrange cultural programs like music, dance, dramas, competitions, etc. It is the time when the communities come together to rejoice and enjoy different activities.

5. Visarjan (Immersion)

The festival concludes with the Visarjan, which means immersing the idol of Ganesha into a river, lake, or ocean—an act of sending the Lord back to Heaven, taking along all trouble and sorrow from his devotees. It is also during this time that Visarjans have to be held and grand processions are taken out, dancing and singing chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" with full zest and enthusiasm to show their love and joy.

Why Ganpati Utsav Is a Much-Loved Time for Children

Children love the time of the Ganpati Utsav. Know why ? 

1. Becoming Culturally Rich

Children celebrating the Ganpati Festival would be made aware of their practices regarding their culture and the importance that religious practices carry. They would be involved in different activities and folklore about Lord Ganesha to develop ideas of belonging and reverence.

2. Craft Work

The festival involves a lot of creative business in which many activities, such as making and decorating the Ganesha idol, making rangolis, and involving oneself in various art and craft projects, are present. This is all enthralling to the children while enhancing their creativity and artistic skills.

3. Community Participation

Ganpati Festival is finally the time when families and societies come together. Children get to experience pleasure by being a part of a larger group, participating in many activities, and making new friends. It is a time to bond with each other and not feel as an outsider

It is through the stories of Lord Ganesha and even through being taught about this festival that children learn such major values as humility, kindness, respect for others, and the need to persevere. These stay on to help in molding character.

Conclusion : 

So who initiated the Ganpati Festival? Though worshipped since time immemorial, the public celebration of the Ganpati Festival, in the manner we see it today, was really kicked off by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak within Maharashtra. He brought people together through the festival in public and spread the message of unity and nationalism.

It is not a question of religious devotion alone that drives us to celebrate the Ganpati Festival; it's about community, culture, and shared values. The community collectively makes an effort to worship together, spread social awareness, and resemble a family more closely.

The Ganpati Festival for children is a source of joy, creativity, and learning. It means being close to your own heritage, the ability to do interesting things, and to learn life skills.

So let us not lose this beauty of the tradition year by year, something which tends to make the celebration of Ganpati so very beautiful. Unity, devotion, and the rejoicing spirit of bonding together can be experienced either when celebrating at home or just being at home during the Ganpati Festival.

FAQs : 

What is the reason behind Ganesh Chaturthi?

The ritual is done to signify the birth cycle of Lord Ganesha; just as he was created from clay/Earth, his symbolic statue is as well. The idol is immersed in water so that Ganesha may return to his home after his 'stay' at the devotees' home or temple where the Ganesha Chaturthi rituals are conducted.

What is the first day of Ganpati called?

Ganesh Jayanti (literally "Ganesha's birthday", also known as Bhadra shukla chaturthi, Tilkund chaturthi, and Varad chaturthi, is a Hindu festival. This occasion celebrates the birth day of Ganesha, the lord of wisdom.

What is the symbol of Ganesha?