Ganesh Puja

Sri Ganesha is worshiped as the “God of wisdom” in Hindu religion. As per the description in Hindu scriptures, as we popularly call him ‘Sri Vinayak’ or ‘Sri Ganesha’ is paid a great devotion because he is the God who eradicates obstacles coming on the life cycle of the people. It is widely believed that worshiping ‘Sri Ganesha’ brings property; good luck to one’s career. ‘Vigneswara’ is prayed as first God (Adya Devta) in all Pujas.

As per the ‘Purana’ Vinayak ‘Sri Ganesha’ emerged on the earth on the month of ‘Bhadra Sukllapaksha Chaturthi Tithi’. So it is called ‘Ganesha Chaturthi’ through out India. Comparing to Maharastra, Gujurat, Andrapradesh etc. Orissa is not far behind in celebrating Ganesha Puja. In Orissa Ganesha Puja is celebrated in every nook and corner, with lot of joy and happiness. People celebrate this occasion by arranging special pendals for the God. Ganesha Puja is the biggest occasion for students of Orissa. Schools, Colleges, Universities, Coaching centers and other institutions attached with education also celebrate Ganesh puja with immense love. Students wear new clothes and observe fasting as a mark of devotion to their loving God. The students break their fasting by offering ‘Puspanjali’ to Sri Ganesha, while reciting ‘Mantras’. Sri Ganesha is worshiped with ‘Sodasa Upachar’ and offered ‘Rasiladu’ as his most favorite ‘Prasad’. It is a day on which every student pays God Ganesha to make his/her educational career bright. Students also offer new writing material like pen, note pad etc. to God, which are used by them after the Puja is over. It is believed in Orissa not to be involved in study related activities on this day. The trading community of Orissa also worship ‘Sri Ganesha’ for prosperity in their business. A lot of cultural programmes are arranged in many parts of Orissa for this occasion.This colourful event comes to an end, after emersion of Ganesh in the holy rivers. The students resume their studies with a lot of zeal only after the celebretion of Ganesh puja.

History of Lord Ganesh Birth

There is a curiously interesting tale about the birth of Ganesha. It is believed that once while Parvati was bathing, she created a human figure from some unguent and balm, gave it life and asked the new born to guard the entrance door of Parvati’s living Place. After a long period of meditation on Mountain Kailash (Lord Shiva’s abode), Lord Shiva chose that very moment to drop at Parvati’s door in order to meet her, but was abruptly stopped by the new born child (whom Parvati created from balm) to whom Parvati had posted at the door as guard to restrict strangers. When Lord Shiva tried to enter into the door with out obeying the word of that little child he was stopped at he door. Outraged by the check of this stranger, Shiva cut off his head only to discover moments later that he had killed Parvati’s son! For fear of enraging his wife, Lord Shiva immediately despatched his ganas (attendants) and instructed them to get him the head of a living creature, which sleeps lying its head to to the north direction in the vicinity. Coincidentally the first living creature happened to be an elephant. As per the instruction, the head was chopped off and brought back to Lord Shiva, who placed it on Parvati’s son’s body, bringing him back to life. This elephant-headed God was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati, which literally means the chief of the ganas, or the attendants of Shiva. Ganesha is the foremost God of the  Hindu pantheon. He is first worshipped during every sacred institution in Hindu religious beliefs. People also pray Lord Ganesh before undertaking a journey or starting a new venture. You will also see him carefully guarding entrances to temples and homes, peeping out of calendars and happily gracing marriages and other such occasions.