Ganesh chaturthi is always fun,it was almost like a mini diwali.We would wake up early,set out to buy Ganesh idol and all of the pooja package.The most interesting part was decorating Ganeshji,it was a gold chain by default,and other things change according to our individual members taste,sometimes it we would make him sit at the top of clay hill decorated with flowers,and one time there was a small bowl of water on the hill to look like a pond,and sometimes it was all flowers around him.I have noticed there are is some differences in our country in celebrating Krishna jayanthi,Hanuman jayanthi and few other festivals but Ganesh chaturthi is a celebration common to all.As far as I know Lord Ganesh must be having maximum temples in our country(there are two ganeshji temples in my street) It is believed that Ganeshji is most easily approachable god,for he needs no penance or sacrifice just dedication,and that is why simple thing like grass,coconut offered to him.
Not many know that the celebration of Ganesh chaturthi,which was a house hold celebration was turned into a public event by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.BG Tilak was considered the founding father of Indian Independence,and public gathering was banned by the British and BG Tilak used celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in public to bring Indians together to spread freedom fire.And the British were really awestruck with the unity of people on Ganesh chaturthi.Ganesh chaturthi isn't just a religious celebration,but a national celebration!
Few years back.on a conversation with a Tamil scholar,he was telling me why Ganeshji was so popular in our country.Human race,when had the knowlodge of agriculture,their main threat were elephants which would destroy their paddy,and so they thought they must please elephants to save their fields,and during harvest it was the rats which destroyed their crops,and that is why they started worshipping Ganeshji and rat his pet.There is all science behind everything,but then we are restricted to know the logic.I don't know how many of you would agreee with this story.but I would because it sounds logical or atleast that scholar friend has the knowledge to see logic behind everything just like Ganeshji
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