Ganesh Chaturthi is known to be celebrated with grandeur in Maharashtra, but this festival holds importance all across the country. Lord Ganesha is regarded as a source of knowledge, wisdom, fortune, and success. Vinayaka Chaturthi commemorates Lord Gajanan’s birthday. It is observed in the lunar month of Bhadrapada, usually in August and September. This year it will be celebrated from September 19 to September 28. People in the southern part of the country also celebrate this day with varied rituals.
In Karnataka, Ganesh Chaturthi is known as Ganesh Habba or Gowri Habba, and it is celebrated with great zeal.
Gowri Habba is a festival honouring Gowri, another name for Parvati, Lord Ganesha’s mother. Gowri Habba is celebrated one day before Ganesha Chaturthi. The two festivities are commonly referred to as Gowri Ganesha Habba.
According to popular belief, Goddess Parvati visits her devotees on the day, and Lord Ganesha comes the next day (Ganesh Chaturthi) to take her back to Kailasa, Lord Shiva’s residence. She is the most powerful incarnation of Aadhi Shakthi Mahamaya, according to mythology.
As per tradition, married women perform the ceremonies on this day. An idol of Goddess Gowri is placed, which is usually a mantapa or a dish filled with grains.
The idol of the goddess is then dressed up, and prayers are chanted by the devotees. These prayers are thought to cleanse the soul and increase focus and attention.
A collection of traditional giveaways is created. Each kit contains packets of turmeric (arishina, a yellow-coloured spice), vermilion (kunkuma, a red-coloured spice), bangles, beads, a shirt piece, coconut, certain cereals, and sweets such as jaggery.
As a symbol of sharing happiness and prosperity, these sets are given to married ladies in the community.
On the next day, people clean their homes and lavishly decorate their in-house temples before placing the Ganesh idol. During the day, pujas and aartis are performed in the presence of family and friends.
According to traditions, on a banana leaf, local foods are offered to the deity, which include Modakam, Kosambari, Gojju, Mosaru Bhajji, Payasams, and some other delectable sweets and savoury dishes.
Coconuts are an important feature of all auspicious ceremonies in the South. For the Ganesh puja, a thali is prepared using rice, turmeric, cereals, flowers, and fruits.
Willows are commonly used in Karnataka to produce thalis, which are exchanged between married ladies during prayer sessions and friendly visits to each other’s homes.
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