Ganesh Chaturdi

Ganesh Chaturdi

Ganesh Chaturdi which is also known as Vinayaka Chaturdi is a Hindu Festival celebrated on the Birthday of lord Ganesha. Clay models of Lord Ganesha are made for sale by specially skilled artisans far before 2 or 3 months. They are beautifully decorated by different persons in different ways and also designed in different poses and sizes of these statues may vary from 3/4 of an inch to over 70 feet.

The main sweet dish during the festival is the modak (modak in Marathi, modakam/kudumu in Telugu, modaka in Kannada and modagam in Tamil). A modak is a dumpling made from rice flour/wheat flour with a stuffing of fresh or dry-grated coconut, jaggery, dry fruits and some other ingredients which is very tasty and delicious and its Ganesha's favorite.

It is said that Ganesha drives away all sorrows, difficulties, and miseries. He is the enemy of all obstacles. He will not allow any obstacles to come in the way and thus the Lord of the intellect and self-realization. 

Ganesha is also the Lord of all learning (vidya). Walking, talking, laughing, sitting, eating, strolling, thinking --every kind of activity is related to learning. Hence Students worship Vinayaka with zeal. Vinayaka is not the one who merely comes to the aid of those who read their books. He helps everyone at every step in life's journey.