Ganesh Chaturthi 2023: Date, Time, History, Significance, and Celebration

Date and Time of Ganesh Chaturthi 2023

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity.

This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will begin on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 and will end with the immersion of Lord Ganesha's idol (Ganesh Visarjan) on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

The Ganesh Puja muhurat, the auspicious time for worshiping Lord Ganesha, will start at 11:01 am and end at 12:38 pm on September 19, 2023.

History of Ganesh Chaturthi

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is believed to have originated in the 17th century during the reign of the Maratha Empire.

It is said that the great Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, first celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival to unite the people of his kingdom and promote cultural and religious unity.

Since then, Ganesh Chaturthi has become one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar, celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion throughout India and other parts of the world.

Significance of Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is a time to worship Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the bringer of good luck and prosperity.

Devotees believe that worshiping Lord Ganesha on this day will bring happiness, health, and success in all their endeavors.

During this festival, people bring idols of Lord Ganesha into their homes and temples and worship him with offerings of flowers, sweets, and incense.

Celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great pomp and show in many parts of India, especially in Maharashtra, where it is considered a state festival.

During the festival, people erect large pandals (temporary structures) and install idols of Lord Ganesha in them.

These pandals are decorated with colorful lights, flowers, and traditional motifs, and people visit these pandals to offer prayers and seek blessings from Lord Ganesha.

Cultural programs, such as traditional dances and music performances, are also organized during the festival.

The festival culminates with the immersion of Lord Ganesha's idol in rivers or other bodies of water, marking the end of the celebrations.