The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over egoism. The holding of the ankusha represents His rule of the world. It is the emblem of divine Royalty.

~ Anonymous

Ganesha, the lovable elephant-deity riding a mouse is a God that is often associated with Hinduism. The advent of Lord Ganesha embarks on a 10 day journey that is celebrated with lots of festivities.

Ganesh Chaturthi, as it is known, marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The start of this festival also marks the beginning of the rest of the festive season in India that is filled with fun and joy.

Needless to say the journey is marked amidst a lot of fanfare and celebrations. People mould clay models of the Lord and place it at their homes and common worship places.

Fresh food and fruits are offered to the deity everyday as a token of respect and love for the God. Food is an integral part of celebrations and festivals in India.

Modak is a sweet dumpling made with rice flour, jaggery and shredded coconut. As a variant you can also add a handful of chopped dry fruits for extra flavour. This is known to be a favoured sweet of Lord Ganesha and most people cook this as an offering to the God.  If you are keen to know the preparation technique of this sweet, you can view the original post here.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a period of spiritual cleansing and people chant, “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah” to promote oneness with the God. As the idol is taken for immersion, there are frenzied chants of  “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Laukar ya” ( which means, “O lord Ganesha, we await your arrival again early next year”).

With heavy hearts the people bid adieu to the Lord. The festival that lasts for 10 days, at the end of which the Lord is immersed in water as a sign to wash away our troubles. It is also known as a karmic circle of life. Since the idol of the Lord Ganesh is sculpted from mud, the significance of immersing it in water indicates that it was a way of returning the material back to the Earth.

 The Elephant God or Lord Ganesha is known as the Lord of the Beginnings and a remover of all obstacles. It is customary to offer a prayer to this God before anyone starts a new journey in life or in business. He is a God who is worshipped for knowledge, wisdom, education and wealth. 

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Editor: Travis May

Image source: Flickr

Featured Image: Author’s Own