with the month of shraavan, bhaadrapad,-the fourth and fifth month in the hindu calender starts a whole lot of festivals which are celebrated in konkan.


Sukhkarta dukhaharta, vakratunda mahakaya…..These are the names and adjectives attributed to shree ganesh

Shree ganesh is the one of the gods of the Hindus.
Shree ganesh or the “elephant- god” is considered the beginner of all things auspicious. People before starting out on any venture pray to this deity.
In the month of “bhadrapad”, fourth day ie the chaturthi as per the Hindu calendar, all Hindus celebrate the ‘ganesh chaturthi festival’ the idol of ganesh is brought and decorated and this festival is called the ganpati festival. Lokmanya balgangadhar Tilak was the pioneer of starting this festival as a social event where a locality celebrated it jointly. This was started as a freedom movement.
However, here we will be observing the celebration of these festivals in private homes by the people of konkan.
This festival is celebrated for either one and a half day, five days seven days or eleven days. The idols are prepared of clay mud or plaster of Paris. While bringing this idol the man of the house will generally wear a white cap, at the entrance the idol is worshipped ie welcomed and then the “pratisthapana” ie placing the idol at its due position takes place. “Aarti” is a kind of verses sung in the praise of the god. This aarti is generally sung twice in the day. Once in the afternoon before lunch and in the night before dinner. It is sort of offerings to ganesha in the form of food, sweets and flowers. The household as a ‘prasad’ later savors the offering
To be contd ….