Best Places to Witness Ganesh Chaturthi in India

Ganesh Chaturthi in India is a festival celebrated with full pomp and glory, and the grand occasion unites people from different castes and parts of the country. It is observed in the month of August or September all over India in commemoration of the birth of elephant-headed deity, Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. 

The 10-day-long festival commences on the 4th day (Chaturthi) of the waxing moon phase and ends on the14th day (Anant Chaturdashi). The deity is known by 108 different names and is considered the saviour of humans from every obstacle. That is why he is worshipped first by the Hindus before beginning any new activity for the day. 

Although a prominent festival across India, Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, among others, is celebrated extensively, where towering idols of decked-up Ganesha are created for the public to offer their prayers.

If you have not witnessed this vibrant and colourful festival up close, now is the time to do so. Visit these top places in 2019 where Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in India is observed in all grandeur and splendour. 

Seek the Lord’s Blessings During Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in India

1. Mumbai 

Amidst loud bellow of “Ganpati Bappa Morya, Mangal Murti Morya”, the bustling city of Mumbai in  Maharashtra commences the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations each year. Mammoth idols of Lord Ganesh displayed in tastefully decorated pandals dot different cities of this state, the most prominent among them being Mumbai and Pune. More than 6000 idols of this deity are created and the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and zest.

Like every year, this year too Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai will begin with placing the huge idol of God Ganesha on the throne on the first day. This is followed by an elaborate puja that is attended by thousands of devotees in and around Mumbai.

You can witness the city come alive in vibrant colours, with idols being installed both at home and infamous pandals, namely Lalbaugcha Raja, Ganesh Galli Mumbaicha Raja,  KhetwadiGanraj, Siddivinayak Temple, Andhericha Raja, and others. On the last day of the Puja, in a carnival-like march, the idol is immersed in the Arabian Sea. 

You can easily book one of the hotels in Mumbai and enjoy the 10-day festival with the same zeal as the Mumbaikers. 

2. Pune

Along with Mumbai, Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune is also worth a visit. Pune, the cultural capital of Maharashtra, organizes one of the best Pujas in the state which is attended by innumerable devotees from across India. Modak, laddoos and other sweets are offered to the Lord and people perform traditional dances during the festival.

The 10-day celebrations culminate with Ganesh Visarjan or the immersion of the idol in a huge procession that also marks the end of the ceremony. You can enjoy the culture, tradition, art and delicious food that is authentic to Maharashtra during the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune, and you are sure to love them! Enjoy the festival by booking budget hotels in Pune and be a part of this amazing festival.

3. Goa

The festivities of Vinayak Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa are also celebrated with the same zeal akin to the neighbouring state of Maharashtra. The festival is close to all Goan people who enthusiastically clean and decorate their houses and visit friends and family during this auspicious occasion. 

The village artisans design spectacular and innovative idols of Ganesha in different shapes and sizes using cane, bamboo, arecanut, coconut and other materials, and these idols are then installed at beautifully decorated pandals.

Mapusa and Marcela are two main places where Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa are celebrated widely, owing to a large number of Hindu temples that are present in these regions. Devotees and tourists from all across the country flock to Goa to witness the festivities and also pay obeisance to the Lord. Plan your vacation around Ganesh Chaturthi and book best budget hotels in Goa to enjoy the festival to the fullest.    

4. Chennai

Tamil Nadu is another famous Indian state to enjoy Ganesh Chaturthi in India. Famously called the Vinayakar Chaturthi, this festival is celebrated with religious fervour by the faithful worshippers of this Lord who throng innumerable Ganesh temples across this state. 

Special puja and aarti are arranged in the temples for all the devotees and “kozhakattai” or modak is offered as prasad to them. Akin to the celebrations in other states and cities, huge idols are created for Ganesh Chaturthi in Chennai as well that are installed in public pandals for people to worship. 

People in Chennai also buy small idols made from clay to place in their respective homes and conduct elaborate puja for the deity to seek his blessings. Ganesh Chaturthi festival in India is one of the most popular ones and also an occasion to commemorate the Lord of art, science, intellect and wisdom. You can book a quality stay with hotels in Chennai and be a part of this grand festival. 

5. Hyderabad 

Hyderabad is another important place to visit during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in India. The 10-day-long festivities are carried out with great vigour and fervour in this city as well.

Enormous idols of the elephant-headed God decorated from head to toe are placed in huge pandals for the public to pay obeisance. Special dishes like kudumulu and undrallu are prepared in large quantities along with rice porridge and presented as offering to the Lord.

One of the tallest idols of Ganesha is installed in Khairatabad, a famous mandal in Hyderabad, where the festival is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm. The idol can range up to 60 feet and laddu, a favourite dish of Ganesha, weighing close to 5600 KG is placed in the left hand of the Lord as an offering to him.

After the regular puja, dance, and aarti for 10 days, the enormous idol is then immersed in the wells or river tank in the city, which marks the end of this festival. Book a quality stay in top hotels in Hyderabad and seek the blessings of the Lord.     

6. Hubbali

Hubbali in Karnataka celebrates this festival in the grandest manner. Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka also includes Gowri Puja where Gauri or Goddess Parvati, the mother of the Lord of wisdom, is worshipped on the previous day. The women perform Gowri Vrata and pray to Goddess Parvati for prosperity and good life. 

In the pandals installed with huge idols of Ganesha, the pandits clad in red dhoti and shawl perform extensive puja. They begin with invoking life into the idol through the Pranapratishta mantras, followed by Shodashaopachara ritual (16 ways of paying tribute to the lord).

Different variety of leaves and flowers that appeases Ganesha are used in the Puja and numerous mantras from Vedas and Upanishads are chanted aloud by the priests. On the 11th day, after the final offerings of coconut, camphor and flowers are made, the idol is carried out in a procession. 

Worshippers pay their final tribute to the Lord through dance and music and the idol is immersed in the river or sea to mark the end of Ganesh Chaturthi in Karnataka. It is believed that all the pain, sufferings and sorrows of the devotees are removed by the God while he’s immersed in the waters and restored with peace and prosperity that marks a new beginning. 

7. Delhi

Ganesh Chaturthi in Delhi gives you a glimpse of all cultural and traditional rituals practised in different parts of the country under one roof, owing to the cosmopolitan nature of the city. In some places, you might spot gigantic idols of the Lord while in others you can hear a loud roar of chants from Vedas and Upanishads read by learned priests of the temples in praise of Vinayak. 

Numerous pandals decorated creatively also dot the city where the public indulges in some fun and frolic in the form of music and dance to hail and celebrate the birth of God Ganesha. You can also visit the stalls serving steaming hot and delicious prasad that was offered to the deity, and witness people all decked up to participate in the puja and worship Him.

Indeed Ganesh Chaturthi in Delhi is celebrated with the same zeal as Durga Puja and other important festivals of India. Some of the best places to visit in Delhi to enjoy Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations include Netaji Subhash Place Ground, Pitampura, DDA Mini Stadium, Laxmi Nagar, Sri Vinayak Mandir Marg, Sarojini Nagar, and others. If you want to be a part of this festival you can book good hotels in Delhi and experience all the celebrations up close. 

This year, Ganesh Chaturthi festival in India falls on 2nd September. With only a few days left for the commencement of puja, it’s time you plan your trip to the nearest city from those mentioned above and in the destination of your choice. This way you can enjoy the festivities to the fullest and also pray to the Lord to take away all sorrows and sufferings from your life and replace them with good health and prosperity. 

Do share your experiences with us in the comment section, we would love to hear from you!