Ganesh Festival

‘Modak’ is one of my favorite food made at the Ganesh festival. I and Lord Ganesha share one

common thing that is this Modaks. LOL. It is basically fresh coconut and jaggery mixed with poppy

seeds, nutmeg, cardamom, and stuffed inside a sachet made with rice flour and saffron, then

steamed. I think in Malaysia they have something similar as well.

Most of the Hindus celebrate the Lord Ganesh festival in late Aug/early Sept as per the Hindu calendar. Modaks are one of the offerings made for god. It's a 10-day festival and I have fond memories of celebrating it in India while being on Summer vacation. While the whole family, uncles/aunts/cousins come together for 10days and pray to this deity for wealth, knowledge, prosperity. Eat lots of food and have fun! It's like having Christmas all over again.

Lord Ganesha is an elephant-headed god and he is a younger son of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

This festival is celebrated as his Birthday. One of the popular legends says Lord Ganesha was created

by Parvati to guard her while she takes a bath. Meanwhile, Shiva returned home and Ganesha, who didn't know who Shiva was,

stopped him. This angered Shiva and he severed Ganesha's head after a tiff between the two.

Parvati was enraged when she came to know about this; Lord Shiva, in turn, promised to get Ganesha back to life.

So shiva went to search for a child's head facing north but he could only find an elephant's head.

He fixed the elephant's head on the child's body, and that is how Ganesha was born.

Ganesha is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of arts and sciences, and the

Lord of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honored at the start of rites and

ceremonies. So everyone prays to this god. Normally one can begin the rituals by getting a

clay idol of Ganesh ji, to worship in the morning and the evening. The entire house is usually

cleaned before getting the idol home and the entire family is gathered to welcome the Lord.

The idol is then worshiped by offerings of Hibiscus flowers, modaks, and prayers. This festival

lasts for 10 days. After praying and celebrating for 10 days the idol is gently immersed in the

lake/river/ocean with heavy-hearted and wishing him to come back soon.

My very fond childhood memories are tied to this festival. I have always enjoyed celebrating

Ganesh Chaturthi in the US and India enjoyed the company of family and friends, and

mainly enjoyed Modaks. 

May Lord Ganesh give us all good health and wisdom to fight with CORONAVIRUS

and hope to celebrate in a big way with my whole family next year.