Chauti or Ganesh Chaturthi festival marks the birthday of Ganesha; the God of beginnings, knowledge, wisdom, prosperity, good fortune and the remover of obstacles. The celebrations of Chauti are carried out for 3 – 11 days and it is believed that during this time Ganesh arrives on earth with his mother, Goddess Gauri.
The festival is celebrated on Bhadrapada Shukla Chauti (Bhadrapada masa Shukla paksha Chaturthi tithi).
History
Once, while Goddess Parvati wanted to take a bath, there were no attendants around to guard her and stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. So she took the turmeric paste from her body, created an image and breathing life into it, and thus Ganesha was born.
Parvati accepted Ganesha as her son and ordered him to guard the house. She instructed him not to let anyone enter till she had completed with her bath and Ganesha obediently followed his mother's orders. After a while Shiva returned from outside, and as he tried to enter the house, little Ganesha stopped him. Shiva was furious at this strange little Ganesha who dared to challenge him. He told Ganesha that he was Parvati's husband, and demanded that Ganesha let him go in. But Ganesha refused to hear him. Shiva lost his patience and had a fierce battle with Ganesha. At last he severed Ganesha's head with his Trishula. When Parvati came out and saw her son's lifeless body, she was very angry and sad. She demanded that Shiva restore Ganesha's life at once.
Unfortunately, Shiva's Trishula was so powerful that it had hurled Ganesha's head very far off. All attempts to find the head were in vain. As a last resort, Shiva approached Brahma who suggested that he replace Ganesha's head with the first living being that came his way which lay with its head facing north. Shiva then sent his disciples to find and take the head of whatever creature they happened to find asleep with its head facing north. They found a dying elephant which slept in this manner, and after its death took its head, attaching the elephant's head to Ganesha's body and bringing him back to life.
Customs
The first day of the festival is Gauri Tadige (Tadige is Tritiya tithi). A copper Kalasha filled with rice is placed on Mane (wood base or asana), and a coconut is placed on top of the Kalasha. Kalasha is decorated with arishina (haldi / turmeric), kumkum (vermilion), mango leaves, and flowers. Some items like bangles, blouse piece, comb, etc. are set in a traditional mora (winnow) or banana leaf. After Gauri visarjana all these items are given as Baagina. (Baagina items may vary from home to home.)
We tie Palavalige to the roof of the pooja room. Palavalige consists of fruits, nuts, and vegetables that we grow. We offer special flower, Gauri hoovu (flower) which blooms only during this month, to Gauri. Paayasa or a sweet dish is prepared offered to Gauri during pooja.
Gauri hoovu
Kalasha
Torana
The second day is Chauti (Chaturthi). On the occasion, only ancestral homes bring Ganesh idol from outside to install and extended families will celebrate with existing Ganesha idol or photo. Ganesh is decorated with Durbhe (Durva grass), flowers, Gandha (sandalwood paste), Chandana (red sandalwood paste), etc. We prepare and offer 21 types of dishes to Ganesh on this special occasion. Pooja is carried out reciting shlokas and mantra, singing devotional songs dedicated to Ganesh. On completion of pooja, Panchakajjaya is distributed as prasad.
Many people do Ganapati Visarjan (Visarjan is only at ancestral homes who has done Pratisthapana) on the same day evening. People keep Ganesh for 1 day, 4 days, 5 days, 7 days, 9 days, or for 11 days i.e. until Ananta Chaturdashi as per their family custom.
Third day is Ili Panchami (Ili – mouse, Panchami tithi – 5th day of the month). As Mooshika or Ili (mouse) is Ganapati’s vehicle, the day is dedicated to Mooshika.
In the evening, Gauri Visarja’ is done at the water source. We take out some of the items – fruits, nuts, vegetables – from Palavalige to send along with Gauri. We perform Gauri pooja at water source and immerse in water. We place deepa (lamp) on banana or any other leaf and place on water to float to show the way to Gauri.
Though Chauti festival officially concludes in most of the homes with Ili Panchami, we visit Ganapati in various public places until Anant Chaturdashi. We eat festive dishes at least for 15 days and these 15 days in Bhadrapada is synonym for Ganapati.
