GANESHA CHATURTHI SIGNIFICANCE, DATE, PUJA TIMINGS, HOW TO CONDUCT PUJA

In my previous post, I have given you some ideas as to how to choose Ganesha idol for puja. I would add a link at the end of this post to the previous post also in case you have not read it.

In this post, I am sharing with you the significance of Ganesha Chaturthi along with time on which you can install the idol of Lord Ganesha and some more important information relating to this festival. 

Significance of this festival

Ganesha Chaturthi is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and Ganesha Chauth. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. On Ganesha Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha is worshipped as the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born during Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. 

Auspicious time to do puja and installing idol of Bappa
Ganesha Puja is preferred during Madhyahana as it is believed that Lord Ganesh was born during Madhyahana Kaal. Madhyahana Kaal is equivalent to midday according to Hindu division of the day.

Sighting the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi creates Mithya Dosham which means false accusation of stealing something. Depending on start and end time of Chaturthi Tithi, sighting of the moon might be prohibited for two consecutive days. It is important for you to remember that moon should not be seen while Chaturthi Tithi is prevailing. Further, Moon risen during Chaturthi should not be seen even if Chaturthi Tithi gets over before moonset.

Ganesha Chaturthi in year 2016 will be celebrated on 05^th September 2016. The madhyahana puja time for this purpose is of 2 hours 29 mins duration (11.04 a.m. to 1:34 p.m.).

NOTE: As discussed previously above time is the best time for puja but if you have a working day then you can install Ganesha idol and do puja between 6.30 a.m. to 9.10 p.m. on Monday, i.e. 5^th September 2016.

On 4^th September 2016, Time to Avoid Moon Sighting = 18:54 to 20:30

Duration = 1 Hour 35 Mins

On 5^th September 2016, Time to Avoid Moon Sighting = 09:16 to 21:05

Duration = 11 Hours 48 Mins

Please note that if anyone has mistakenly sighted moon on above two times then he should chant following Mantra to get rid of the curse of Mithya Dosham–

सिंहः प्रसेनमवधीत्सिंहो जाम्बवता हतः।
सुकुमारक मारोदीस्तव ह्येष स्यमन्तकः॥

Simhah Prasenamavadhitsimho Jambavata Hatah।
Sukumaraka Marodistava Hyesha Syamantakah॥

The Ganeshotsav, the festivity of Ganesh Chaturthi, ends after 10 days on Anant Chaturdashi which is also known as Ganesh Visarjan day. On Anant Chaturdashi, devotees immerse idol of Lord Ganesh in water body after a gala street procession. Anant Chaturthi (or Anant Chaturdashi) is the last day of the “Ganesha festival” celebrated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It is the tenth day after Ganesh Chaturthi which falls on the 14th day of the bright Bhadrapada (the sixth month of Hindu calendar). The day follows the immersion of the idols of the beloved Lord but to be welcomed the next year with equal fervor. Some people observe a vow in honour of Lord Vishnu, which if kept for 14 years is supposed to bring wealth. Taking the rising tithi in account, on this year, Anant Chaturdashi will be celebrated on 15^th September 2016.

Puja Vidhi and Lord Ganesha Invocation (वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय)

I have discussed with you the method of worshipping Lord Ganesha in my previous post. You can follow the procedure. I am not repeating the previous post so that this post remains concise and clear. If you do not have all the material which I have written for puja vidhi, there is no problem. You can offer Laddu or Modak to Him along with a mala of flowers or alternatively you can offer Rudraksha Mala to HIM. It should be new and should not be used by you. Before doing Ganesha Aarti, you can recite following invocation mantra which is popularly known as the vakratunda mantra:

vakratunda mahaakaaya suryakoti samaprabhaa.
nirvighnam kurumedeva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa..

Salutations to the supreme Lord Ganesha, whose curved trunk (vakra-tunda) and massive body (maha-kaayaa) shines like a million suns (surya-koti) and showers his blessings on everyone (sama-prabhaa). Oh my lord of lords Ganesha (kurume-deva), kindly remove all obstacles (nir-vighnam), always (sarva-) and forever (sarvadaa-) from all my activities and endeavors (sarva-kaaryeshu).

"Aum gam ganapataye namah"

                                       Happy Ganesha Chaturthi

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Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Lal Kitab Astro Centre (LKAC)
lalkitabastro.com

LINK OF MY PREVIOUS POST - http://lalkitabastrocentre.blogspot.in/