2. History of Ganesh Chaturthi

Where is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India. However the festival is celebrated on a grand scale especially in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. In fact, it is the most popular festival in the state of Maharashtra, where the festival has a political and historical connection.

When was the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi first celebrated?

One logical answer to this question is - when Ganesha was born!! However, we have no records of this time. The stories of Ganesha derived from Hindu scriptures have been told and retold, reinforcing human faith in the existence of God. We humans began glorifying God based on knowledge laid in scriptures and began celebrating his divine existence. However, there is no record as to when humans first began celebrating this festival. It is believed that the festival first came to be celebrated in Pune. The Peshwa (Administrators, Prime Ministers in the Maratha reign) were ardent devotees of Lord Ganesha and worshipped Him as their family deity (kuldevta meaning God of clan or descendants). Till this time, the festival celebration remained confided to the families influenced by Peshwas and their customs. It was largely a family affair.

1. The first sovereign Emperor of the Maratha Empire, Chhatrapati Shivaji (1630-1680) elevated the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi to mass level to promote and reinforce the traditions, customs and feeling of unity and nationalism. The festival continued to be celebrated during the reign of  later Maratha rulers like Satavahana, Chalukya and Rashtrakuta.

2.  After the fall of Peshwas and the Maratha empire, the festival lost its state patronage. It became more of a family affair for the Peshwa family clan.

3./However, the festival was once again revived during the freedom struggle of India.

In late nineteenth century, the great patriot, social reformer and freedom fighter, Bal Gangadhar Tilak revitalised the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. He encouraged mass participation in the celebration of this festival, which helped to promote feeling of oneness and nationalism. Poised against the 'divide and rule' strategy of British rulers, the festival enabled to bring the masses together by eliminating the caste differences. The cultural events organised during the festival over a span of ten days, brought people together and promoted mutual understanding. People came to have the feeling of belongingness and oneness. Lokmanya Tilak organized the first public celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in 1893.

4. However, the public celebration as witnessed today in Maharastra was introduced and lead by Bhausaheb Laxman Javale. In 1892 Javale installed the first Sarvajanik (Public) Ganesh idol- Shrimant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati, Bhudwar Peth. This endeavour was appreciated by Lokmany Tilak in 1893 in the Kesari Newspaper. The consecutive year (1894) Lokmany Tilak installed the idol of Ganesh in Kesari wada too. He actively began preaching Ganesh Utsav and deployed the concept of festivity and mass gathering to abridge the gap between the Brahmins and non Brahmins.

The festival soon again mass popularity and acceptance. Even today, the zeal and fervor of the festival continues to add to the oneness and enthusiasm of the masses.