|| Shubh Ganesh Chaturthi ||

Today is ”Ganesh Chaturthi” – the auspicious day on which we celebrate the birth of  Shri Ganesh. Shri Ganesh is widely revered as the remover of obstacles (”VidhnhartA”) and is usually invoked when beginning something new (I usually begin my day with the “VakratunDa MahAkAya…” shloka, below).

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्यकोटी समप्रभ:
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव, सर्व कार्येशु सर्वदा ||

vakratuNDa mahAkAya sUryakoTisamaprabha
nirvighnaM kuru me deva sarvakAryeshhu sarvadA ||

Loose Translation: O Ganapati, (the) One with a curved trunk, a large body, and a brilliance equal to millions of Suns! Please make all my undertakings free from obstacles always.

Shri Ganesh Image

Image Courtesy: Megaeclipse (via Wikipedia)

As many of you would know, the public celebration of Ganesh Utsav (SArvajanik Ganeshotsav) is an important chapter in the freedom movement of India. This “festival” was started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1894 when when Tilak himself placed an idol of Ganesh-ji in Vinchurkar Wada in Maharashtra*.

Tilak transformed the celebrations from a private, family affair into an occasion to bring people together against the oppressive British Raj. Because of Shri Ganesh’s widespread appeal among the masses, the celebrations proved to be very useful in breaking barriers within Hindu society at that time.  Let us not forget this motivation of Lokmanya Tilak as we celebrate the day today.

On the auspicious occassion of Ganesh Chaturthi, let us take a vow to treat all Hindus as equals and work towards strengthening the ties that bring us together.

May Shri Ganesh shower his blessings on you and your loved ones, today and always.

For those of you who are curious to read more, here is my post from last year that includes two versions of the story of his birth

Further Reading: Ganesha chaturthi, legends, and prayers

Related Posts:

Happy “Makar Sankranti”…

Om Namah Shivaya

Happy New Year !!

Adjacent post: Of Monkey Gods and Elephant Heads

Updated: 2 links to the historical background and context behind the Ganeshotsav celebrations started by Lokmanya Tilak: British view of the Ganapati festival and Lokmanya Tilak and Ganesh festival

B Shantanu

Political Activist, Blogger, Advisor to start-ups, Seed investor. One time VC and ex-Diplomat. Failed mushroom farmer; ex Radio Jockey. Currently involved in Reclaiming India - One Step at a Time.

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11 Responses

  1. Sid says:

    Subha Ganesha Chaturthi to all.

    May the God who eliminates danger (Vighna Vinashak) can keep us from falling into danger of disintegration again!!!

  2. Prashant Serai says:

    Shubh Ganesh Chaturthi!

    It may be interesting for you to note that many non-hindus have also got ganesh idols at their homes.. Case in point – many of my jain friends..
    and, many more in number share the belief in lord ganesha..

    i would be nice to know the reason why you chose to urge all readers to treat all hindus as equals, if equal why only hindus.. ?

    Wish you a joyful Ganeshotsav!

  3. B K CHOWLA says:

    HAPPY GANESH CHATURATHI TO ALL OF YOU

  4. KSV SUBRAMANIAN says:

    WISH YOU ALL A VERY VERY HAPPY GANESH CHATURTHI !!!

    May Lord Ganesha bless us, the sons of Bharat Mata, for overcoming all the vighnas our beloved motherland faces.

  5. @Shantanu,
    Nice post.
    गणपती बाप्पा मोरया

    @Prasant Sarai
    Jain, Buddhist and Sikhs are considered as Hindus only.
    Also worshipping Shri Ganesh is a Hindu way. If any prays then he/she is a Hindu. Its clear.

    Jai Bharat

  6. B Shantanu says:

    @Prashant: You misunderstood…The remark was in the context of the history of Ganeshotsav which I had briefly alluded to in the post as in “Tilak transformed the celebrations from a private, family affair into an occassion to bring people together against the opressive British Raj. Because of Shri Ganesh’s widespread appeal amongst the masses, the celebrations proved to be very useful in breaking bariers within Hindu society at that time. Let us not forget this motivation of Lokmanya Tilak as we celebrate the day today.

    Of course each one of us should treat the other as equal.

  7. Prashant Serai says:

    hmmm.. my bad..

  8. Prashant Serai says:

    @sandeep

    things are clear.
    btw, if someone wants to say jain, buddhists sikhs and hindus, they would generally mention jain, buddhists, sikhs and hindus.. whatever the consideration may be theoretically..

  9. B Shantanu says:

    Many of you will enjoy this rendtion of Ganesha Pancharatna Stotram by PadmaBhushan M.S. Subbulakshmi (Hat Tip: Uma:

  10. Kaffir says:

    Shubh Ganesh Chaturthi to all.

    Shantanu, great work with your blog, and thanks for your hard work.

  11. B Shantanu says:

    Thanks for the support & encouraging words Kaffir…this makes it all so worthwhile…but the real credit must go to my very supportive better half & the not-so-little-one for sacrificing their time & keeping faith in my belief that all is not lost and we can bring change.
    Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!