Introduction

In 1894, as a protest to a law passed by the British that prohibited Indians from gathering in public places, noted leader of the Indian Freedom struggle, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, initiated a drive to convert the worship of Lord Ganesha as a large scale public event. What began as an endeavor to propagate a feeling of unity among citizens has now transformed itself into a massive cultural and social affair. Ganesh Chaturthi is singularly the most important religious festival for the whole of Maharashtra. Meticulously decorated pandals with mock ups of places of historical importance, or depicting religious themes or contemporary events mushroom all over the city where devotees throng to pay homage to the Elephant God. The more mellowed down version of the same involves the head of the family doing a puja within the premises of the residence itself, with other family members in attendance. A popular food preparation during the time of Ganesha Chaturthi is Modak — rice dumpling stuffed with coconut, dry fruits, jaggery, etc. A number of cultural events involving song and dance, dramas, are organized alongside events with a social cause, such as blood donation camps, free medical check ups, etc. On the eleventh day, serpentine processions carry the idol for immersion—a ceremony known as ‘Visarjan’—chanting the name of the Lord and inviting him to arrive early the next year.

Special Attributes

The most important festival of the region that is celebrated with a lot of pomp and grandeur.

Nuisance

Beggars, Loudspeakers

Dressing restrictions

Dress in whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

The festival is celebrated across the city. You can use auto rickshaws, or private taxis to move around, though heave traffic will slow you down.

Enjoyed by

All

Exposure

Inside the pandals it often gets very stuffy because of the presence of large crowds.

Avoidable Season

The festival normally falls in August or September. Check the exact dates before departure.

Facilities

Foodstalls

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction.

Tip

Children often feel queasy in the presence of the reptiles. Hence, it is best to make a round of the zoo, instead, if you have children in tow.

Type of site

A ten-day long festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu deity of wisdom and prosperity.