Vinayaka Chavithi / Ganesh Chaturthi teaches us many lessons : Some of them are

 

Vinayaka Chavithi/ Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom, prosperity and success. He is also known as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences. The festival is observed on the fourth day of the waxing moon phase in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, usually falling between August and September in the Gregorian calendar.  

According to one of the legends, Lord Ganesha was created by Goddess Parvati from the dirt of her body. She asked him to guard the entrance of her bathing chamber while she was taking a bath. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva, her husband, came to see her and was stopped by Ganesha. This angered Shiva and he beheaded Ganesha with his trident. When Parvati saw this, she was furious and threatened to destroy the world. To pacify her, Shiva promised to bring Ganesha back to life. He then instructed his followers to bring the head of any creature they could find. They found an elephant and brought its head to Shiva. Shiva then attached the elephant's head to Ganesha's body and revived him. He also declared him as his son and gave him a boon that he would be worshipped before any other god.  

The festival of Vinayaka Chavithi is celebrated by installing clay idols of Ganesha in homes and public places. The idols are worshipped for ten days with offerings of flowers, sweets, fruits and prayers. The most popular sweet offered to Ganesha is modak, a dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery. It is believed that modak is his favourite food. On the eleventh day, the idols are taken in a procession to a nearby water body and immersed in it. This ritual is called visarjan or nimajjanam. It symbolizes the return of Ganesha to his heavenly abode after blessing his devotees on earth.  

The festival of Vinayaka Chavithi is not only a religious occasion but also a cultural and social event. It brings people together from different backgrounds and communities. It also showcases the artistic talents of people who make beautiful and creative idols of Ganesha. The festival also promotes environmental awareness by encouraging people to use eco-friendly materials for making and immersing the idols.

The festival of Vinayaka Chavithi teaches us many lessons from the life and attributes of Lord Ganesha. Some of them are:

- Be humble and respectful to your parents and elders.
- Be wise and intelligent in your decisions and actions.
- Be optimistic and confident in overcoming challenges.
- Be generous and compassionate to others.
- Be loyal and faithful to your friends and family.

Vinayaka Chavithi is a festival that celebrates the joy and glory of Lord Ganesha. It is a time to seek his blessings for happiness, prosperity and success in all our endeavours.