When is Ganesh Chaturthi 2024? Date, History, Significance and Celebrations of Vinayaka Chaturthi Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is one of the most energetic, auspicious, beautiful, and revered festivals in India.
Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and giver of success, Ganesh Chaturthi involves welcoming him into our home, treating him like our own for the next 10 days, and then emotionally seeing him off, waiting for him to come back next year.
On the 10th day, the Ganesha idols are immersed in water bodies, rivers, oceans, or even makeshift tanks.

In 2024 Ganesh Chaturthi will begin on September 7, 2024, Saturday.
According to Drik Panchang “Ganesha Chaturthi begins on Saturday, September 7, 2024
Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Muhurat - 11:03 AM to 01:34 PM
Duration - 02 Hours 31 Mins
Ganesha Visarjan is on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.”
The auspicious muhurat and timings are - “Chaturthi Tithi Begins - 03:01 PM on Sep 06, 2024
Chaturthi Tithi Ends - 05:37 PM on Sep 07, 2024”.
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The origins of Ganesh Chaturthi are practically immemorial and people have been celebrating it for as long as one can remember. Although earlier the celebrations were limited to certain parts of Maharashtra and neighbouring regions, now they cover all of North India.
Some people also say that Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ganesha. According to legends, one fine day when Lord Shiva came back to his home, he was stopped in the paths by Lord Ganesha. Ganesha did not know that Shiva was his father as Mata Parvati had created him in his absence so he could guard the home.
When Ganesha kept denying Shiva entry, in rage Lord Shiva cut off his head, which further led to Mata Parvati’s fury. He then instructed his men to roam all around the world and find a child who was not cared for by his mother.
After hours of search, they found a young elephant whose mother had put her back on him. Lord Shiva’s men quickly took the elephant’s head to Lord Shiva who then attached it to Lord Ganesha’s body.
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When Mata Parvati’s anger was calmed down, they lovingly took Lord Ganesha into their family.

Lord Ganesha is known by many different names. He is the Ekdanta, the Vighnaharta, the Gajanan, the Ganpati, the Lambodar, and much more. He is the God who brings in good fortune to your new ventures and makes sure that no hurdles and obstacles come in the way of your success.
Devotees believe that worshipping Ganesha during this festival will remove any obstacles in their lives and bless them forever with prosperity and well-being.
The start of Ganesh Chaturthi also starts the ‘festive season’ in India. After Ganesh Chaturthi we have Navratri, Diwali, Durga Puja, and more. As the festive season begins, it also starts the time for people to seek blessings, start new businesses, grow personally and professionally, and go forward with wisdom, understanding, and Ganpati Bappa’s blessings.
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Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with enthusiasm and love all over India. Be it Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, parts of Himachal, or any Indian state. In some of the other household, one can spot a small or a big murti of Bappa sitting with flowers and sweets around him.
The preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi begin weeks in advance now. Hundreds and thousands of sculptors and artisans come together to craft the tiniest and the largest Ganpati idols for houses and temples. And while most idols are made from clay, plaster of Paris, and other materials, for home uses people are moving towards more eco-friendly idols made of natural clay and coloured with natural dyes.
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On the first day of the festival, the idols are installed in temples and pandals and placing the idols is a huge deal in itself. The idol of Bappa is surrounded with chants, hymns, songs, dancing devotees, prayers, and more.The idol is placed on a decorated platform, and the eyes of the deity are ‘opened’ with a ‘Prana Pratishtha’ ritual.
During Ganesh Chaturthi, people who bring Bappa home, the temples, and the Pandals perform daily puja and rituals to take care of and honour Lord Ganesha. There is regular prayer, chanting of mantras, offering of beautiful flowers, sweets (especially modak), and clothes for Bappa.
And after nine days, on the 10th day, Ganesh Visarjan is done with a heavy heart and teary eyes. Devotees say bye to Lord Ganesha with the chant ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhachya Varshi Lavkar Ya’ which means ‘O Lord Ganesha, please come back again early next year also’. The visarjan is done with music, dance, dhol, chants, and much more, and the energy is simply electric.
Both children and adults immerse Lord Ganesha in the water, waiting for the idol to dissolve in the water, and head back home, hopeful that Lord Ganesha will come back soon next year with the same energy, love, and enthusiasm.