Diverse Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations across India

Exploring unique rituals from Goa to Mithila

Though primarily associated with western India, notably Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi, honouring Hindu God Ganesha is celebrated across India with diverse rituals and traditions.

As homes and localities across India welcomed Lord Ganesha earlier this week, the focus of the attention was naturally drawn towards Mumbai and Pune, as well as other major cities of Maharashtra, the hub of the celebrations in India.

Yet, Ganesh Chaturthi is a vibrant, multi-faceted festival that is celebrated across India with regional variations rich in tradition and cultural nuance. From Goa’s grand Chavath to Karnataka’s Gowri Ganesha, Tamil Nadu’s Vinayaka Chaturthi, Kerala’s unique Lamboodhara Piranalu, and Mithila’s Chaurchan, each locale brings its own distinctive flavour to the worship of Lord Ganesha.

Goa: Chavath or Parab

In Goa, Ganesh Chaturthi is called Chavath or Parab, meaning an auspicious celebration. The Goa festivities unfold over a minimum of two days but can extend up to 21 days, marked by deep-rooted family rituals, colourful decorations and community participation.

Devotees install intricately crafted clay idols of Lord Ganesha in their homes. The priest invokes the presence of Ganesha through mantras, offering coconuts, jaggery, 21 modaks (sweet dumplings) and durva grass to the deity.

A key feature unique to Goa is the Sangodd celebration held on the seventh day. Villagers of Cumbarjua Canal create imaginative floats by tying two canoes decorated with themes ranging from mythological to social issues, which float down the river amid music and dance. Another notable aspect is the decorated home tableaux in areas like Ranechem Juvem, where locals open their homes showcasing mythological scenes alongside the Ganesha idols.

Adpai, a village in Goa, is famous for its collective immersion procession where 17 families come together to take their Ganesha idols for visarjan or immersion, symbolising unity and community spirit.

The food during Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa adds to the flavour, besides the iconic modaks, steamed rice flour modaks, coconut ladoos, and nevereos, a type of fried snack, are favourites, prepared in households days before the festival.

Karnataka: Gowri and Ganesha

Karnataka’s celebration is distinctive because Ganesh Chaturthi is preceded by the ‘Gowri Habba’, dedicated to Goddess Gowri, the wife of Lord Shiva and mother of Ganesha. This festival, observed on the day before Ganesh Chaturthi, involves worshipping Goddess Gowri, who is seen as an incarnation of Adi Shakti Mahamaya, the supreme power.

Women prepare idols of Gowri using turmeric, painting and decorating them. These idols are placed on a bed of rice or wheat and adorned with mango leaves and banana stems in an elaborately decorated mandapa.

Married women observe the Swarna Gowri Vratha, fasting the entire day, tying a sacred thread called Gowridara with 16 knots on their wrists, invoking blessings for marital harmony and courage. They also receive baaginas, packets containing turmeric, vermillion, black bangles, comb and food items, which they share.

On Ganesh Chaturthi itself, idols of Ganesha are installed with traditional prayers involving 16-step worship rituals called Shodashopachara, and offerings of 21 durva blades, modaks, red flowers and coconuts. The celebrations last 10 days, concluding with the immersion of the Ganesha idols.

Tamil Nadu: Vinayaka Chaturthi or Pillayar Chaturthi

In Tamil Nadu, the festival is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Pillayar Chaturthi. This is an elaborate 10-day festival starting with the installation of Ganesha idols at homes and public spaces. The first day is significant, as families bring the clay idols home, decorated with flowers and vibrant adornments.

The Tamil celebration is steeped in a story from Hindu mythology, where Lord Shiva beheads Ganesha guarding Parvati’s bath, only to later revive him by replacing his head with that of an elephant. The festival is marked by fervent prayers, cultural programs and community celebrations. Maratha king Shivaji institutionalised public Ganesh events in South India, and in early 20^th century, social reformer and freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak popularised it as a public festival to unite different communities.

During the 10 days, devotees offer special sweets like modaks and pay homage through chants and rituals. On the final day, the idol is taken in a grand procession and immersed in water.

Kerala: Lamboodhara Piranalu

Kerala’s Ganesh Chaturthi, locally called Lamboodhara Piranalu, is celebrated mostly in the month of Chingam coinciding with August-September. The festival here takes on a quieter, more regional flavour. In places like the capital Thiruvananthapuram, the day is marked by processions where participants carry decorated clay idols of Lord Ganesha through the streets.

Although not as widely publicised as in other states, it includes traditional poojas and community gatherings. The focus is on reverence and prayers, with families preparing special dishes and sweets.

Bihar (Mithila region): Chaurchan festival

In the Mithila region of Bihar, which also extends into Nepal, Ganesh Chaturthi takes on a distinct cultural essence through the Chaurchan festival. Unlike many Hindu traditions that avoid moon sighting on Ganesh Chaturthi due to an ancient curse, Mithila uniquely worships both Lord Ganesha and the Moon God.

Chaurchan is primarily observed by married women praying for the well-being of their families. It includes moonrise prayers, family reunions, and local folk songs.

The ritual reflects Mithila’s rich heritage and divergence within Indian Hindu traditions, showcasing regional respect for lunar deities alongside Lord Ganesha.

This evening ritual, also known as Chauthichanda or Charchanna Pabni, is distinct in its invocation of both Ganesha and Chandra, the Moon, emphasising familial prosperity and cultural pride.

From Goa’s festive boat parades and extended 21-day public celebrations to Karnataka’s powerful homage to both Goddess Gowri and Lord Ganesha, Tamil Nadu’s elaborate and mythologically rich observances, Kerala’s serene processions, and Bihar’s unique moon worship tradition, Ganesh Chaturthi reflects India’s remarkable cultural mosaic in every small detail.