Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Vidhi

 Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Vidhi: Step-by-Step Guide for Worshipping Lord Ganesha

Learn the detailed Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Vidhi to perform the rituals at home. Celebrate Lord Ganesha's arrival with this step-by-step guide, including preparations, mantras, and the significance of each ritual.

Ganesha Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a grand Hindu festival celebrated to honor the birth of Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings. Performing the Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Vidhi at home with devotion is believed to bring blessings, peace, and prosperity to the family. This article provides a detailed step-by-step guide to performing the puja.

Ganesha Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a vibrant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across India and by Hindu communities worldwide. The main ritual of Ganesha Chaturthi is the puja, a sacred ceremony performed to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha.

Preparation for Ganesha Chaturthi Puja

1. Choose a Date: Ganesha Chaturthi is typically celebrated on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad. However, the exact date varies each year according to the lunar calendar.
2. Prepare a Ganesha Idol: Procure a clay or metal idol of Lord Ganesha. It is customary to bring the idol home on the first day of the festival.
3. Decorate Your Home: Decorate your home with flowers, rangoli patterns, and lights to create a festive atmosphere.
4. Gather Puja Materials: Assemble the necessary puja items, including:
   • Ganesha idol
   • Red cloth
   • Ghee lamp
   • Incense
   • Flowers
   • Fruits
   • Sweets
   • Coconut
   • Turmeric powder
   • Rice
   • Water
   • Mangalsutra (for married women)

Ganesh Chaturthi Puja

1. Avahana (आवाहन) – invoking Lord Ganesha
2. Pratishthapan (प्रतिष्ठापन) – installing Lord Ganesha into the statue
3. Aasan Samarpan (आसन समर्पण) – offering seat to Lord Ganesha
4. Arghya Samarpan (अर्घ्य समर्पण) – offering scented water to Lord Ganesha
5. Aachaman (आचमन)
6. Snan (स्नान)
   1. पञ्चामृत स्नानम्
   2. पयः स्नानम्
   3. दधि स्नानम्
   4. धृत स्नानम्
   5. मधु स्नानम्
   6. शर्करा स्नानम्
   7. सुवासित स्नानम्
   8. शुध्दोदक स्नानम्
7. Vastra Samarpan (वस्त्र समर्पण वं उत्तरीय समर्पण)
8. Yagyopavit Samarpan (यज्ञोपवीत समर्पण)
9. Gandha (गन्ध)
10. Akshata (अक्षत) – unbroken rice for Puja
11. Pushpa Mala (पुष्प माला)
12. शमी पत्र
13. दुर्वान्कुर
14. सिन्दूर
15. Dhoop (धूप)
16. Deep Darshan (दीप दर्शन)
17. Naivedhya Nivedan (नैवेद्य निवेदन)
    1. चन्दन
18. Tambula Arpana (ताम्बुल अर्पण) – offering Paan made of betal nut and leaves
    1. नारिकेल अर्पण
    2. दक्षिणा समर्पण
19. Neeranajan (नीरानजन/आरती) – Lord Ganesha Aarti

On Ganesha Chaturthi, devotees also perform Eka Vinshati Name Ganesh Puja and Lord Ganesha Anga Puja along with the above Shodashopachara Puja.

Steps for Performing Ganesha Chaturthi Puja

1. Ganesha Pranapratishtha: Establish the presence of Lord Ganesha in the idol through a sacred ritual.
2. Abhishekam: Bathe the idol with water, milk, curd, honey, ghee, and sandalwood paste.
3. Shodashopachara Puja: Offer 16 different types of offerings to Lord Ganesha, including flowers, incense, fruits, and sweets.
4. Aarti: Perform the aarti ritual, waving a lighted lamp in front of the idol and chanting devotional songs.
5. Prasad Distribution: Distribute prasad (blessed food) among devotees.

Preparation for Ganesha Chaturthi Puja

Before starting the puja, proper preparation is essential. Here’s a checklist for the necessary items:

• Ganesha Idol: A clay or eco-friendly idol of Lord Ganesha.
• Kalash: A sacred water-filled pot with mango leaves.
• Puja Thali: Contains flowers, incense sticks, diyas, and aarti items.
• Offerings (Naivedya): Modaks, fruits, sweets, coconut, and betel leaves.
• Clothes and Decorations: Red or yellow cloth for Ganesha, and flowers for decoration.
• Mantra Book: Ganesha mantras or stotras for chanting.

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Step-by-Step Ganesha Chaturthi Puja Vidhi

1. Sthapana (Installation of the Ganesha Idol):

   • Begin by purifying the house with Gangajal (holy water) or sprinkling clean water.
   • Set up a clean, sacred place for Lord Ganesha’s idol.
   • Place a red or yellow cloth on a raised platform and set the Ganesha idol on it.
   • Light an oil lamp (diya) to signify the start of the puja.

2. Pran Pratishtha (Invoking Lord Ganesha):

   • The next step is to invoke Lord Ganesha in the idol by chanting the Ganesha Pran Pratishtha Mantra: “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”.
   • Offer flowers, rice (Akshat), and turmeric to the idol while chanting the mantra.

3. Shodashopachara Puja (16 Offerings Ritual): This is the main part of the puja, where you offer 16 different items to Lord Ganesha:

   • Avahanam: Invite Lord Ganesha to accept your offerings.
   • Asanam: Offer a seat to Lord Ganesha by placing flowers before the idol.
   • Padya: Offer water to wash His feet.
   • Arghya: Offer water to wash His hands.
   • Achamana: Offer water for drinking.
   • Abhishekam: Bathe the idol with milk, curd, honey, and ghee, then rinse with clean water.
   • Vastra: Offer clothes or a piece of cloth to the idol.
   • Yajnopavita: Offer a sacred thread.
   • Gandha: Apply sandalwood paste to the forehead of the idol.
   • Pushpa: Offer fresh flowers, preferably red hibiscus or marigold.
   • Dhoop: Light incense sticks as an offering.
   • Deepa: Light an oil lamp in front of the idol.
   • Naivedya: Offer modaks, fruits, and sweets to Lord Ganesha.
   • Tambula: Offer betel leaves and nuts.
   • Aarti: Perform the aarti by waving the lit camphor or diya in front of the idol in a circular motion while singing the Ganesha Aarti.
   • Pradakshina: Circumambulate around the idol three times, symbolizing devotion and surrender.

4. Ganesha Mantra and Bhajans:

   • Chant the following Ganesha mantras during the puja for blessings:
     • “Om Gan Ganapataye Namah”
     • “Vakratunda Mahakaya Suryakoti Samaprabha”
   • Singing bhajans dedicated to Lord Ganesha enhances the spiritual atmosphere and brings divine energy to the surroundings.

5. Visarjan (Immersion Ritual):

• After worshipping for 1.5, 3, 5, 7, or 11 days, perform the visarjan (idol immersion) ceremony.
• Before visarjan, do a final aarti and offer your prayers for blessings.
• Take the idol to a nearby water body and immerse it, symbolizing the cycle of life and the return of Lord Ganesha to Mount Kailash.

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Significance of Ganesha Chaturthi Puja

The Ganesha Chaturthi Puja holds immense significance as it marks the beginning of new ventures, success, and the removal of obstacles in life. The puja is a way to express gratitude to Lord Ganesha and seek his blessings for wisdom and prosperity.

Astrologically, Lord Ganesha is the ruler of Ketu and is invoked to remove Ketu-related afflictions in one’s horoscope, which might cause confusion, obstacles, or spiritual challenges. Performing this puja helps in mitigating such negative planetary effects and brings clarity and peace of mind.

Ganesh Puja Visarjan

Offer flower and raw rice on chawki and recite, “O Lord! Many thanks to come for puja. Please receive my offerings, recitation and reside again at your divine place.” There are no specific mantras to be chanted during Ganesha Visarjan. Ganapati Bappa Moriya is a very popular chant. You can also recite the following sloka:

मूषिकवाहन मोदकहस्त
चामरकर्ण विलम्बितसूत्र ।
वामनरूप महेस्वरपुत्र
विघ्नविनायक पाद नमस्ते ॥

The visarjan ritual begins with the Uttarang puja which involves offering five items, namely deep (oil lamps), pushp (flowers), dhoop (incense), gandh (fragrance) and naivedya (food) to Ganpati.

After this, all members of the household gather to perform the aarti and sprinkle akshat or raw rice upon the lord. The murti of Ganesha is then lifted from its seat and carried to the threshold where it is turned to face the house and placed on the floor.

You should thank Ganesha for visiting your home. Thank him for bringing prosperity and auspiciousness. Thank him for taking away all difficulties with him.Ask for his pardon for any mistakes committed.

If you plan to bring Ganesh murti next year, then ask him to return.

Now a spoonful of curd is poured into Ganesh’s outstretched palm because Hindus especially Maharashtrians believe that any guest who receives curd and rice is sure to visit again.

Ask for His blessings. The family then circumambulates Ganesha murti after which it is led for immersion.

Conclusion

Ganesha Chaturthi is a joyous and auspicious occasion that celebrates the wisdom and power of Lord Ganesha. By following the traditional rituals and mantras, devotees can invoke his blessings and create a positive atmosphere in their homes.