Ganesh Chaturthi Ki Kahani Aur Mahatva

Ganesh Chaturthi ek prasiddh Hindu tyohar hai jo Bhagwan Ganesha ke janam-diwas ke roop mein manaya jaata hai. Yeh Bhadrapada maah mein aata hai aur poore Bharat mein, khaaskar Maharashtra mein, bade dhoom-dhaam se manaya jaata hai.

Ek prachalit katha ke anusaar, Maa Parvati ne apne ubtan (chandan ke lep) se ek putle ko banaya aur use jeevan diya — yehi Ganesha the. Unhone Ganesha ko dwarpal (dwar ki raksha karne wala) banaya aur kaha ki jab tak woh snan karke na aaye, koi bhi andar na aane paaye.

Is dauran Bhagwan Shiva aaye, lekin Ganesha ne unhe pehchana nahi aur andar jaane se rok diya. Ismein hui galatfehmi ke karan ek vivaad hua.

Baad mein, jab Maa Parvati ne poori baat bataayi ki yeh unka hi putra hai, to Bhagwan Shiva ko bahut pashchatap hua. Unhone apne gan ko aadesh diya ki jo bhi sabse pehla praani mile, uska sar laakar Ganesha ko lagaya jaaye taaki unhe punah jeevit kiya ja sake. Ek haathi ka sar mila, aur isi tarah Ganesha ko gajanan (haathi ke mukh wala) roop mila.

Iske baad Bhagwan Shiva ne Ganesha ko vardaan diya ki koi bhi shubh karya shuru karne se pehle sabse pehle unki puja ki jaayegi — isi liye Ganesha ko "Vighnaharta" (vighnon ko door karne wale) aur "Pratham Pujya" kaha jaata hai.

Ganesh Chaturthi par ghar-ghar mein aur samaj mein Ganesha ki murti sthapit ki jaati hai, unki poori shraddha se puja ki jaati hai, aur kuch dinon baad "Ganesh Visarjan" (murti ko jal mein visarjit karna) kiya jaata hai.

Yeh tyohar naye shubh kaaryon ki shuruaat, gyan, buddhi, aur badhaaon ko door karne ke sankalp ka pratik maana jaata hai.