When did the Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius start?
About Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius Holiday
Welcome to Mauritius for a celebration of Ganesh Chathurthi! The national and religious holiday of Ganesh Chathurthi comes to life as Sanskrit chants and colorful decorations brighten up the streets. Ganesh Chathurthi is a festival celebrating the Hindu god Ganesha and his power of wisdom.
Ganesha’s birthday marks the beginning of the month-long Ganesh Chathurthi festival that includes special poojas (worship), chanting of mantras, and parades with idols of Ganesha. Hindus in Mauritius deck up their homes and local temples and encircle them with colorful decorations in honor of Ganesha’s birthday.
The holiday is most widely observed for ten days, from the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadrapada to the waning moon. During this ten-day period, Mauritians celebrate by sharing prayers and fondness for Ganesha with family and friends. However, the podium of celebration is generally owed to the mass congregations at temples where Ganesha devotees take part in public ceremonies that celebrate Ganesha’s resurrection. A spectacular feast is also arranged and enjoyed by everyone.
May the year ahead be blessed with happiness and success! May Ganesha shower you with all his blessings and love.
Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is a celebrated Hindu festival occurring all over India, but particularly in the state of Maharashtra. It is an important cultural event in Mauritius as it is seen as a time of reverence and appreciation for Lord Ganesha. Held for 10 days, traditionally, people of all backgrounds come together to honor and revere the Hindu god and seek blessings
History and Origin
The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has been celebrated since 900 CE, when it was first found in Hindu scripture. The Puranas and Agamas mention the birth of Lord Ganesha and also give details about how to celebrate the different forms of Ganesha, also known as corporates (Kshetras) of Ganesha. The first one to honor Ganesha and to commemorate his birthday was Morya Gosavi, a renowned medieval saint. He reached a climatic state of meditation and saw Lord Ganesha in his vision and later dedicated his life to worshiping him.
In its ancient form, it was a simple prayer offered to Lord Ganesha. This gradually evolved into a larger festival, over the centuries, becoming more and more elaborate and are brought in many components such as music, dance, theatre performances, pujas and devotion. In 1892, Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave an impassioned call to the people of Maharashtra to revive this ancient festival and to take it out of the realms of temples and bring Ganesh Chaturthi to be celebrated in the public domain.
Today, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in various parts of the world by Hindus. In Mauritius, it is a much anticipated festival and you can see the enthusiasm in Mauritians of all faiths and religions who come together to celebrate.
Significance and Meaning
Ganesh Chaturthi symbolizes the victory of good over evil./ It is believed to bring in prosperity, protection and success in the life of its celebrants. For Hindus, Ganesha is the God of new beginnings and remover of obstacles. Thus, it has become a tradition among Hindus to bring in the deity home during the 10 days of celebration and invoke his blessings for prosperity and luck.
The festival also marks the start of autumn and many Mauritians believe that it is a time of spiritual cleansing and uplifting of the spirit. During the 10 days, people perform a variety of rituals, including chanting of mantras and offering special food to the god as a sign of devotion. In many places, devotees emulate this by offering roses to Ganesha as a sign of devotion.
Traditions and Celebrations
The most important part of the festival is the installation of the Ganesh idol in homes and in big mandaps in temples. Each family will select suitable idols of Lord Ganesha and place it in the puja room or on the altar. After that, they will begin the puja by performing prayers and offering flowers, fruits, and other offerings.
During the ten days of Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees go on a pilgrimage to temples and holy places to participate in the prayers and offerings. In temples, elaborate pujas and rituals are performed to the deity, and musical performances are held.
In Mauritius, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in vibrant colored traditional attire with much fervor. Devotees wear yellow and orange clothes and a procession of devotees playing drums and blowing conch shells accompany the deity’s procession as it is taken around the city.
On the tenth day, there is a special pooja, and then the idol of Lord Ganesha is immersed in a lake or river. This marks the end of the festival. This immersion of the Ganesha idol is considered a purifying process, wherein people seek forgiveness from Lord Ganesha for all their wrongdoings and seek blessings for good health, peace, and prosperity.
Geographical Spread
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated widely in India, Mauritius, Fiji, Kenya, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Trinidad and Tobago to name a few countries. In each country, there may be some local variations to the observance of the festival but the sentiments remain the same.
In Mauritius, it is observed widely and enthusiastically. Ganesh Mandirs in Mauritius come alive during this festival. A few popular Ganesh temples in Mauritius are: Ganesha Gowri Temple in Plaine Magnien, Sri Subramaniar Temple in Quatre Bornes, Gopalswamy Temple in Eau-Coulee, and the Jummah Mosque and Grand Mosque in Port Louis.
Modern Day Observations
It is said that the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has been celebrated in the same way for generations, however, some modern tweaks and changes have been seen in recent years. For instance, the duration of the festival has been shortened to five days in many cases. This is because the younger generation doesn’t have enough time to spend on the ten-day long festival. Additionally, devotees are seen undertaking environmental-friendly immersions of the idols, by using eco-friendly materials for preparation and natural methods for disposal.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
- The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated during the month of Bhadra. Bhadra is one of the twelve months in the traditional Hindu calendar. It is generally between August or September.
- Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days in honor of Lord Ganesha. Each day of the festival holds a special significance and devotees observe the puja with devotion.
- Invoking blessings from Lord Ganesha is done by reciting prayers and mantras. The mantras and chants invoke good luck, knowledge, abundance, and success.
- The most important food offered to Lord Ganesha is modak. Modak is a type of sweet dumpling made of rice flour and it is a favorite of the deity.
- During the immersion of the deity, a special ayudh puja is performed. Ayudh puja signifies the destruction of evil and wishing for peace and prosperity to prevail.
- Ganesh Chaturthi is also celebrated to ask Lord Ganesha to bless people with knowledge and wisdom. This is why it has become a tradition to invite pandits and Vedic pundits to the festivities.
- On the tenth day of the festival, devotees break their fast. This is done by consuming foods that are loved by Lord Ganesha such as modak, payasam, sweet pongal, puran poli, and laddoos.
Holiday Wishes
- May the blessings of Lord Ganesha enlighten your life and fill it with joy and abundance.
- May your life be showered with joy and never ending prosperity.
- May Lord Ganesha grant you all the happiness you seek and protect you from all harms.
- May Lord Ganesha shower you love and kindness.
- May you be blessed with success and good health.
Holiday Messages
- Wishing you a blessed and joyous Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Happy Vinayaka Chaturthi and may Lord Ganesha shower you with love and blessings.
- Wishing you and your family a blissful and prosperous Ganesh Chaturthi.
- Wishing you and your family health, wealth, and peace on Ganesh Chaturthi.
- May this Ganesh Chaturthi bring you success and good fortune.
Holiday Quotes
- “Om Gannapatayae Namah. Subramanianaye Namah. Vinayakaya Namah. Bhalchandraya Namah.” – Shiva Stotram
- “The Lord Ganesha’s blessings will be on you forever and even the obstacles in your life will gradually melt away.” – Anonymous
- “Let your heart be filled with the joyful vibrations of Ganesh Chaturthi.” – Anonymous
- “The Lord Ganesha cleanses our inner self and teaches us to be humble.” – Anonymous
- “Ganesh Chaturthi is a time of joy, new beginnings and a reminder to us to become a better person.” – Anonymous
Other Popular Holiday Info
Many other activities are also seen during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. One popular activity is kite flying. This is also done as part of the festive mood. Devotees fly kites during the day, signifying good times and joy. Additionally, theatrical performances, musical programmes, and art performances are also a part of the festival.
In Mauritius, several social organizations are involved in the celebration of the festival. These organizations ensure that the festival is given the due respect it deserves and that it remains a part of the island’s cultural and social fabric. They organize various activities and competitions to promote awareness of the festival and encourage participation from the public. These activities also help to support local businesses, growers, and so on.
Ganesh Chaturthi is an important festival in Mauritius and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. It is a time to bring family and friends together, to seek blessings, invoke luck, and to start something new. It is a reminder of the power of unity and cherishing the things that bring us together.
Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius Also Called
Sagga Chauth.
FUN FACT:
In year 2031, Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius is celebrated on September 7 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!