Talk:Ganesh Chaturthi

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• Hello, we have now Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganesha Chaturthi, and Ganesh festival – I feel something should be done to reorganize these articles. Kindly give your suggesitons. Thanks.--Bhadani 2 July 2005 16:43 (UTC)

I did the merge with Ganesh Festival. The Ganesh{|a} merge had already been done. 59.92.194.4 14:05, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

Another major component that this entry is missing is some discussion of the extent to which the public performance of Ganesh Chaturthi is associtated with and often underwritten by the Hindu right. This is true not only in Maharashtra, where in Mumbai the event always features extensive Shiv Sena presence and is often marred by outbreaks of Hindu-Muslim violence; but in other places where this has become a major public event as well. One example would be Hyderabad, where the event has featured several incidents over the years.

This is true not only in Maharashtra, where in Mumbai the event always features extensive Shiv Sena presence and is often marred by outbreaks of Hindu-Muslim violence...

This is not true. Having spent most of my life in Mumbai, I can say that it is not an exclusively Shiv Sena related event. Even violence is not there (atleast not communal). Violence in Hyderabad does not mean that the festival generally has violence involved.

Rohitbd 15:09, September 6, 2005 (UTC)

I would not say that this should be the formost emphasis, but to leave it out entirely is irresponsible.

Finally, I think the ToI article that has been included gives readers an excellent description of what the festival actually looks like and the reasoning behind various pujas. However, the heading 'Rooted in Tradition' is completely misleading, since as the article makes clear we are dicussing a festival that began in its current form in the 19th century. Ganesh Chathurthi is one of the most important and visible examples of modern Hinduism, and to imply that it is 'traditional' does a disservice to the creativity (and mischief) of Tilak and other people who brough the festival to prominence in the modern era.

Contents 1 Name 2 Problems??? 2.1 Example of non-Hindus involved with Ganesh Chaturthi 3 Headline text 4 wtf 5 Placing background on Ganesha on the main Ganesha page 6 rollback needed? 7 Ganesh chaturthi v Ganesh Jayanti 8 Renaming of article

[edit] Name

Ganesh Chaturti is the right name. User:Nichalp/sg 09:15, September 5, 2005 (UTC)

No, IMHO Ganesh Chaturthi is the correct name. Some pronounce it as Chaturti - it is probably due to accent. Rohitbd 15:02, September 6, 2005 (UTC)

No problems with that, I was commenting on the Ganesha bit of Ganesha Chaturthi User:Nichalp/sg 08:58, September 10, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Problems???

Despite the well meaning idea behind this festival, in modern times it has led to increasing religious tensions between the hardcore Hindus and Muslims. The increasing number of fundamental hindus out to stir trouble try to pass along the routes inhabited by other religious groups thereby inciting violence (on the lines of the Orange Order marches). Environmentalists too have questioned the dumping of the idols made increasingly with chemicals which pollute the lakes and seas. On September 2004, the Chennai High Court imposed a temporary ban on such immersions. Every year there are atleast a couple of casualties associated with accidents (while dumping the idols) or clashes associated with this.

It would be helpful if the author of this particular section would provide some references. This seems to be a rather generalised view based on a few random incidents.

Rohitbd 15:32, September 6, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Example of non-Hindus involved with Ganesh Chaturthi

Changed the "Problems" section and added information about non-Hindus' involvement in Ganesh Chaturthi along with reference for the same.

Rohitbd 15:58, September 10, 2005 (UTC)

The section tittled "Problems" is too specific for an encylopedia article and is based on isolated incidents. Removal this section is suggested.

Geeteshgadkari (talk) 13:16, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Headline text

The festival is of the Hindus. It is not associated with any political party. The names can be merged into one entry - Ganesh Chaturthi. This is how it is referred to in Maharashtra. This festival occurs on the fourth day (chaturthi)of the Hindu calendar. Ganesh Chaturthi occurs around August. In these public celebrations huge images of Ganesha ranging from 10 feet to 40 feet are installed and along with the daily prayers and hymns, there are entertainment programmes which are a major attraction. Till the turn of the last century, this festival was celebrated only in homes and temples. But during the struggle for independence against British rule, freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak made it a public festival. Tilak did this so as to cleverly broadcast his political message of freedom for India. Carried out in the garb of a religious activity, it was difficult for the British Administration to curb it. But the festival once having acquired a public form for a political purpose, retained that form even after the political purpose ceased to exist. Hence even today in independent India Ganeshotsava is celebrated both publicly and privately.

• • • • Premkumar

[edit] wtf

a show of strenght?! who the hell wrote that?

[edit] Placing background on Ganesha on the main Ganesha page

Namaste! I notice that the Ganesh Chaturthi page contains some general background that is duplicative of general material found on the Ganesha page. It may be easier to do maintenance if this duplicate content were simplified, with the general material about Ganeshji found on his main page, and concentrating on information about the festival on the Ganesh Chaturthi page. Do others agree with this idea, or are these other points of view? ॐ गं गणपतये नमः Buddhipriya 05:20, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

No one has responded about this suggestion, so I am going to test the waters by pruning a little bit of unreferenced material of a general nature that is duplicative of general issues which would be better covered in the iconography section of the Ganesha page. Here is what I am removing in case someone needs to refer to it:

As a matter of interest there are about 91 different figures of Ganesha according to research done by several scholars. The details of their make up may vary from figure to figure, but with no change in the main set-up. It is the enigma of certain striking variations in details that the sublime in the figures of Ganesha has to be sought for. Some figures are seen sitting with their trunks turned towards the left side, invariably reaching a bowl of modaks (a sweet edible and festive preparation), while in some figures, the trunks are seen turning towards the right and in yet others, the trunk is straight, hanging down, with or without a pot of nectar in the curve of their trunks. In some images, Ganesha is seen standing, resting his right foot on a lion and his left foot on a mouse (his chosen mode of transport), while in some other images, his left foot is found resting on a mouse and his right foot lifted in an effort to touch the serpent girdle - his mount carrying a jewel in its mouth.

If it is to go back in, please provide a solid reference for these statements so the citation can be studied in relation to other sources on this interesting subject. ॐ गं गणपतये नमः Buddhipriya 01:22, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] rollback needed?

this page may need a rollback to correct vandalism but i don't know how to do it. can someone help? Buddhipriya 06:09, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Ganesh chaturthi v Ganesh Jayanti

I am moving this comment from the main page to here (where it belongs!):

"If Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesh, then what is Ganesh Jayanti is celebrated for, which falls in month of Magh of Hindu calendar (Jan-Feb) of each year. Pls check and update this page accordingly."

Can some editor address this issue in the article, if needed ? (sorry, I haven't read the complete article myself yet) Abecedare 07:32, 9 February 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for raising this interesting subject. First step may be to nail down some variations in how people talk about these things. Ganeshji loves all of the attention given to him, so there are many opportunities to celebrate him. Since Wikipedia is about sourcing, here ia a background quote from Thapan that at least helps define dates for the annual festivals:

[regarding Gaṇapati festivals when special pūjā is performed:] "These are the Vināyaka caturthī in the śuklapakṣa (the fourth day of the waxing moon) in the month of bhādrapada (August/September) and the Gaṇeśa jayanti (Gaṇeśa's birthday) celebrated on the cathurthī of the kṛṣṇapakṣa (fourth day of the waning moon) in the month of māgha (January/February)" Thapan (op. cit., p. 215).

So the user's question is quite correct to make these two things clear. The terms may be a little more confusing if you take into account the monthly worship cycle in addition to the annual cycle. Each lunar month also has a worship opportunity on the fourth day of each half, but I believe the terms may vary in different calendars. In the one I use the kṛṣṇapakṣa cathurthī is named Saṃkaṣṭachaturīvratam and the śuklapakṣa cathurthī is named Vaināyakī vratam. I am ignorant of how much variation these terms may have in other calendars and would be interested to hear from others how their monthly calendars are marked. Both of these monthly dates are good times to remember Ganeshji in special ways.

So if we have got the terms right, I would say that the day when we may give Ganeshji birthday cake, which he loves, is in māgha for certain. Next we must try to look up more details on how the date of the annual festival in bhādrapada became associated. It rings a bell somewhere in the Ganesha Purana but I am not sure. I hope others will share what they know. Buddhipriya 01:58, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

A scriptural citation for the bhādrapada birthdate is to Śiva Purāṇa II.iv.2.68 (cf. Thapan p. 142, note 100); also the same is given in the Rudrasaṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa II.iv.18.35-7 (cf. Thapan p. 144, note 169). There his birth is given as the dark half of the month of bhādrapada (August/September) at the auspicious hour of moonrise. So we may definitely give him more birthday cake on that day too. More citations must be found regarding the Jayanti. Buddhipriya 02:38, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Renaming of article

IMO the article should be named Ganesha Festival as it discusses the whole festival rather than the day of Ganesh Chaturthi only, which is the benning of the festival. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Redtigerxyz (talk • contribs) 10:55, 7 November 2007 (UTC)