Maghi Ganeshotsav

Mumbai now celebrates Ganesh festival twice a year. While Vinayaka Chaturthi which falls in August/September is celebrated all over India, Maghi Ganesh Utsav is a Maharashtrian festival.

The lanes of Mumbai are now busy preparing for a mini Ganeshotsav. Mandals have installed huge Ganesh idols all over the city and there is festive cheer in the air.

Maghi Ganeshotsav is not a new celebration. It marks the birth of Lord Ganesh. Maharashtrians have been celebrating this occasion with great festive fervor for a long time. It is traditionally celebrated with Puja, Aarti and bhajan (the singing of hymns) and by rocking the holy cradle of Ganesh and by leading palkhi processions. Over the years, there has been a remarkable difference in the way the festival is celebrated. Now Ganesh Mandals have started the practice of installing idols. And Mumbaikars seem to be happy. Large crowds are gathering to see the arrival of Ganesh idols for Maghi Utsav. These idols will be worshipped for 7-10 days with daily pujas, song and dance.

A Ganesh idol installed at a pandal in Mumbai. During Ganesh festival, tens of thousands of idols are installed all over Mumbai and Maharashtra. These idols are worshipped for ten days and then taken for immersion in water.

Ganesh Jayanti or Maghi Utsav is observed on the Shukla Paksha Chathurthi in Magh month of the Indian lunar calendar. Maghi Ganeshotsav falls in January or February. Vinayak Chathurthi which falls in August or September is the biggest Ganesh Utsav of the year. It is a 10-day festival during which people bring home idols of Lord Ganesh. They worship him at home for up to ten days and then the idol is taken for immersion in a body of water. Now Maghi Ganeshotsav (Ganesh Jayanti) is also celebrated in more or less the same manner.