5 Things You Should Know About Ganesh Chaturthi

One of the biggest festivals in India, Ganesh Chaturthi is just around the corner and we just can’t wait to celebrate the birthday of our most endeared deity, Ganesha. On the eve of the auspicious day, take a break from the preparations of the celebration to know about some intriguing facts about Ganesh Chaturthi.

1. The creation of Ganesha 
He asked one of his Ganas to bring him the head of the first animal he saw sleeping and he brought him an elephant’s head. Lord Shiva replaced Ganesha’s head with an elephant’s and restored his life and it all happened on the fourth day of the Bhadrapada month.

 2. The significance of the day 
On this day, Lord Shiva declared Ganesha as superior to all Gods except Vishnu, Parvati, Laxmi and himself. Ganesh Chaturthi, which is the fourth day of the Hindu lunar month of Avani (August – September), is the day when Lord Ganesha is believed to descend on earth to bless his devotees.

3. Don’t look at the moon 
Legend has it that the moon had once mockingly laughed sight of Ganesha riding his tiny mouse that offended the Lord to the extent of cursing the vain moon. The curse said that the moon shall never have any light fall upon him.
However, as the moon repented, Ganesha modified his curse and said that the moon will forever undergo regular waxing and waning so that he’s reminded to stay humble. He also added that unjust blame and criticism shall befall anyone who looks at the moon on the fourth day of the Bhadrapada month. 

4. The great revival of the festival 
Ganesh Chaturthi has been celebrated publicly in Pune since the era of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Emperor during the 17th century. However, with the fall of the Peshwas, the festival became just a private family celebration having lost its patronage
It was social reformer and Indian freedom fighter, Lokmanya Tilak who revived the celebration as a means to unite the people through festival and since then, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with pomp and grandeur all across the nation. 

5. The first public installation of Ganesha idol
It was in 1892 that the first sarvajanik idol of Ganesh was installed by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale who is also known as Bhau Rangari. It was Javale who introduced the current Maharashtra public festival inspiring Lokmanya Tilak to popularize Ganesh Chaturthi as a national festival.