Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is one of the most revered deities in Hinduism. The festival is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi in some parts of India.

Ganesh Chaturthi is typically celebrated in the months of August or September, on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the waxing moon period (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada.

During the festival, devotees worship Lord Ganesha by making and decorating clay idols of him, performing puja rituals, offering flowers, fruits, and sweets, and chanting mantras in his honor. The festival lasts for 10 days, after which the idols are immersed in a water body, such as a river, lake, or sea, in a ritual known as Ganesh Visarjan.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated across India with great fervor and enthusiasm, and it is also celebrated by Hindu communities around the world. It is a time of joy, devotion, and celebration, as devotees seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha for prosperity, success, and good fortune.

Ganesha Chaturthi in Ghana

As shown in the video, the Hindu community in Ghana celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi with great enthusiasm and devotion. They start by making clay idols of Lord Ganesha, which are then decorated with colorful clothes and jewelry. The idols are placed in a specially decorated pandal (tent) or shrine for worship.

The celebrations typically last for 10 days, during which devotees perform puja rituals, chant mantras, and offer flowers, fruits, and sweets to Lord Ganesha. On the last day of the celebrations, the idols are taken in a procession to a nearby water body, where they are immersed.

The celebrations are a way for the small Hindu community in Ghana to connect with their cultural and religious roots and also to showcase their traditions to the wider Ghanaian community.

It’s important to note that Hinduism is not a major religion in Ghana, and the Hindu community in the country is relatively small. However, the community is still able to celebrate their festivals and traditions in their own way and keep their culture alive.

Prosperity, success, and good fortune

The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi varies from region to region in India, and also among the Hindu communities around the world. However, here are some common ways in which the festival is celebrated:

1. Idol making and installation: In the weeks leading up to the festival, clay idols of Lord Ganesha are made by skilled artisans. The idols are then decorated with vibrant colors, jewelry, and flowers. The idols are then installed in homes, temples, and pandals (temporary tents or structures) specially erected for the festival.
2. Puja and offerings: Devotees perform puja rituals to the idol of Lord Ganesha, which involves lighting lamps, ringing bells, and chanting mantras. Offerings of flowers, fruits, and sweets are made to the deity as a symbol of gratitude and devotion.
3. Cultural programs: The festival is often accompanied by cultural programs, such as music and dance performances, dramas, and processions. Community feasts are also organized during the festival.
4. Visarjan: The festival ends on the 10th day, when the idols are taken in a colorful procession to a nearby water body, such as a river or sea. The idols are immersed in the water with great fanfare and celebrations, marking the end of the festival.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a time of joy, devotion, and celebration, as devotees seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha for prosperity, success, and good fortune.

How long to celebrate?

While Ganesh Chaturthi is traditionally celebrated for 10 days, it is possible that in some communities or regions, the festival is celebrated for a shorter duration, such as three days as mentioned in the video about the celebration in Ghana. The duration of the festival may vary depending on the customs and traditions followed by the local community. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.