Ganesh Chaturthi also known as ‘Vinayaka Chaturthi’ or ‘Vinayaka Chavithi’ is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is celebrated on 4th day of Hindu lunar calendar month of Bhadrapada maasa. Which is usually in mid-August to mid-September.

Ganesh Chaturthi is 10-day-long festival every year. It is the most popular festival of Maharashtra. It is said Ganesh Chaturthi was started by Chhatrapati Shivaji and It is been celebrated since the days of Maratha rulers: Satavahana, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta. Now it is mainly celebrated in southern states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh. Among them, Maharashtra is the state known for high scale celebrations.

Ganesh chaturthi is also festival of food. Lord Ganesh is said to be foodie. Many varieties of prasad as modak, kheer, puran poli, undrallu, kudumulu etc are made and offered to him. Foodies wait for mouth-watering food made of  grated jaggery, coconuts and dry fruits.

There are four main parts of the festival – Pranapratishhtha, Shhodashopachara, Uttarpuja, Ganpati Visarjan. For visarjan reason Ganesha statue is made of turmeric dough or clay.

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with high spirit. Preparations start days before the festival. Many skilled artisans live by making,  decorating and painting Ganesh Idols. These statues vary in size between 2 inches to 100 feet. The priest chants mantras and performs puja. Lord Ganesha is worshipped for ten days. On the eleventh day the statue is finally immersed in the water.