Festival of the God of Wisdom

Lord Ganesha
Ahmednagar, India
September 7, 2024 10:53pm CST
People in India celebrate a 10-day festival of Lord Ganesha, who is known as the God of Wisdom traditionally. The festival started yesterday and will culminate on the 17th of this month. Due to social media and spread of internet, we have started knowing each other's culture pretty well. So, are my foreign friends aware of this 10-day festival?
7 people like this
7 responses
@ptrikha_2 (46567)
• India
8 Sep
Ganpati Bappa Morya ! (Hail our Lord Ganpati Ji ) . We too have been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi since 2015. It was not our tradition before(we are not from Maharashtra). Yet I think the beauty of our culture is that we have festivals being celebrated across regions and ethnic lines. In some cases, even across religion although that has unfortunately been watered down over the last 40 years or so due to various reasons. Anyways, This is a great festival, especially in Mumbai. On the day of visarjan(Lord Ganesha is sent back after his stay - immersed in water), the crowds in Mumbai are very very huge ! I wonder how the police there manages those big crowds ! I also recall some 80s and 90s movies having scenes where someone is chasing someone else with weapons in the visarjan rush. (I think one was Govinda's movie, but I do not recall the name ! The festival is celebrated in our society and elsewhere as well. There are food fares as well on some days and moment of joy and happiness.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46567)
• India
10 Sep
@abhi_bangal Yes the festivals do unite us. And so do the ways of celebrations. The only thing that sometimes bothers is the show off factor. The role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak can never be forgotten or underestimated. His efforts helped in uniting many people across India. Yet when I come to know that his role in freedom struggle is not taught well enough in school curriculums. Future generations would know less and less about such facts. Anyways have a nice time ahead!
1 person likes this
• Ahmednagar, India
10 Sep
Well, Ganpati Bappa Morya to you too, my friend. As for us, we have been celebrating the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi for more than a few decades now. I mean ever since I remember we have been installing the Ganesha idol for 10 days in our house. There might only be around 1% or so houses here in Maharashtra that might not be doing so. Yeah, I got you long back, that you aren't from here. But I have a few friends in Delhi and UP who aren't Maharashtrians, but still worship Bappa with the same fervor. It's only that Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave it a social form. It's not like Ganapati Bappa wasn't worshipped earlier. It was only a medium to unite the people against the Britishers. You are right. Mumbai is a huge attraction place during these 10 days. But don't count out Pune as well. Bal Gangadhar Tilak had founded a couple of colleges and schools in Pune that are quite famous these days. Anyway, it was good talking about these things. A lot of history was recalled from school as I mentioned a few things here. That was good. And yes, I forgot to mention one thing. Festivals are really celebrated cutting across ethnic lines and physical boundaries. I think that's the real power of Bharat.
@ptrikha_2 (46567)
• India
11 Sep
@abhi_bangal Yes the vision was such a big one that it is so valid even today. Good Night and have a nice sleep !
1 person likes this
@grenery8 (7380)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
13 Sep
i've heard of the lord ganesha but i didn't know it takes so many days. i hope you'll have less obstacles in your daily life. happy holiday
1 person likes this
• Ahmednagar, India
14 Sep
That's so nice of you to wish that way. Thank you! Thank you so much for that! It's actually a 10-day festival in most parts of our place here. But the number of days vary in certain places. In Mumbai, you might have heard about this city for sure, the duration of the festival is about a day and a half day. Mumbai life is too hectic. That's why the duration is lesser. In other places, it is 5 days. But the festival that we all individually celebrate in our houses, it's full 10 days. It's quite a festive atmosphere that just can't be expressed in words. But thank you for your wishes!
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• Ahmednagar, India
16 Sep
@grenery8 Actually, I should say sorry to you. Because the link was placed by mistake. And even I didn't know how it appeared there. It was only www and nothing else after that. Just deleted it. Sorry to bother you, because you thought the link is there and why isn't that opening...
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@grenery8 (7380)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
15 Sep
@abhi_bangal capital cities are always special, ah i can't open your attachment but thank you for your effort
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@RebeccasFarm (88703)
• Arvada, Colorado
8 Sep
I hope some wisdom will come my way, I need it.
1 person likes this
• Ahmednagar, India
8 Sep
Now you are embarrassing me, ma'm! A person at your age has already learnt lot. Though yes, we are always learning... We are always students our whole life. I wish you not good, but the best of luck in life
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• Ahmednagar, India
9 Sep
@RebeccasFarm Welcome ma'm
• Arvada, Colorado
8 Sep
@abhi_bangal Hello and thank you so much.
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@LindaOHio (171927)
• United States
8 Sep
I have heard of the celebration. I hope you have a good time and are enjoying the weekend.
1 person likes this
• Ahmednagar, India
8 Sep
That's the power of internet, as I said in the discussing. We get to know a lot about each other. But I'm both surprised and amused that you have heard about this festival. You too have a good time and a great weekend.
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@LindaOHio (171927)
• United States
8 Sep
@abhi_bangal Thank you very much.
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• Ahmednagar, India
8 Sep
@LindaOHio, You are welcome
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@sarik1 (7122)
12 Sep
I like this festival. i am celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi . i kept ganapti ji in my home.we are not maharashtra , but i do celebrate every year.
1 person likes this
• Ahmednagar, India
13 Sep
@sarik1 Yes. Everyone and anyone can celebrate this festival of Lord Ganesha. I think there shouldn't be and there isn't any physical boundary for such types of celebrations. Because Lord Ganesha isn't any particular community's or region's daity. The whole of India worships Lord Ganapati. And you might also be knowing that this festival is quite popularly celebrated even outside of India. Ganapati Bappa Morya!!
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• Ahmednagar, India
13 Sep
Oh, that's so great of your to hear from you about this Sarika ji. There might hardly anyone who might not be enjoying and liking this 10-day festival. May I tell you one thing? It's not like Lord Ganesha festival should be observed only in Maharashtra. Actually, He is the deity of all of us. He is the God of Wisdom. He is everyone's favorite. It's just that the festival got a public celebration form starting from Maharashtra. Bal Gangadhar Tilak is credited with this. He did that to unite the Indian people to fight the British in the freedom struggle. That was the real intention to start this festival in a public form. But like you, there are quite a few people, non-Maharashtraians who keep Ganapati ji in their homes. I have a few friends from Delhi and Rajasthan. They too celebrate the way you do. It's great to know this. After all, India is united in diversity, isn't it?
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@sarik1 (7122)
13 Sep
@abhi_bangal Thanks nice to information.you are right say absolutely.everyone can celebrate this festival.nowdays Delhi ncr is more celebrating ganesh chaturthi. in school time people was not celebrated this festival.now all india state is celebrating this festival.ganapati bappa morya.wish you very ganesh chaturthi ganapati
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@Faster16 (3186)
• Indonesia
9 Sep
Totally! The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is gaining more international recognition thanks to social media and the internet. People are learning about its vibrant celebrations, the creative Ganesha idols, and the cultural significance of the festival. It’s pretty cool how global connectivity is helping us all appreciate and celebrate each other’s traditions!
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• Ahmednagar, India
9 Sep
You are right. Our's is becoming a global village. And it's all happening with the spread of internet. And I think it's for the betterment of all of us. We are getting to know which people celebrate what kind of festivals in which part of the world... If I'm not wrong the Ganesha festival is quite dominant in Indonesia and Bali. Am I right? Or am I right? Anyway yes, due to internet we started to know about the cultural significance of each other. Nothing's better than that!
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@Starkinds (32712)
• India
8 Sep
Happy ganesh pooja
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• Ahmednagar, India
8 Sep
Wishing you the same... Happy Ganesh Pooja to you too