8. Chaturthi Customs Outlined

1. Custom of Worshiping Ganesha Idol Ritualistically 

The idol of Lord Ganesha is worshipped ritualtiscally during the festival Ganeshiutsav. The preparation of the idols begans on a commercial scale as early as three months before the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The idol is brought covered with red or saffron cloth one day before in auspicious time as read / known from the Daily Panchang for given place. Following this, the idol is installed and ritualistically worshipped on the day of Chaturthi. The idol stay period varies from one and a half days to ten (or eleventh) day. During this stay, Ganesha is worshipped everyday with offerings of flowers, fruits, sweets, lamps and glorified by chanting of Mantras, slogans and singing of aarti.
On the final day, the idol of Ganesha is taken for immersion in a grand street procession. The idol is immersed in flowing water such as sea or river while praying to Ganesha to return early next year.

2. Home cleaning
A day before Ganesh Chaturthi, the house is super cleaned and may be whitewashed to attain purity.
If Ganesha is seated in pandal (temporary shrines) then the arrangements for setting up pandals or mandaps commences about one month before the date of Chaturthi. These are decorated with flowers, leaves, and lights.

People take bath early in the morning on the day of Ganapati puja; they wear new clothes and perform the puja with all the rituals. Idols of Ganesha are bought from the shops and are taken to the homes, temples or pandals with the faces of covered with a saffron cloth. Chanting of prayers in the praise of the Lord continues all the way. These days it is advised to buy eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha. These idols of Lord Ganesha are then placed at the podium, at a place where puja is held. Ganapati's idols is then beautified with floral garlands and sandalwood paste and A kalash containing holy water or rice is then placed before the Lord's statue, it is known as Purna Kumbha. After this, the prayers are performed to invoke the presence of Lord in the idol by the priest. This ritual is called Pranpratishhtha. Chanting of mantras and hymns takes place while the custom of pranpratishhtha is completed.
After that, a 16-fold praying procedure, Shodashopachara is followed: Aavaahana, Aasana, Paadya, Arghya, Aachamana, Madhuparka, Snaana, Vastra, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedya, Taamblooa, Aarati, and Mantrapushpa.
Aavaahana means 'to invite'.
Aasana means offering our guest the seat. This is called as Aasana Samarpana.
Paadya is to wash the feet of the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Arghya means to wash off the hands.
Aachamana is about taking three gulps of water to smoothen the speech faculty.
Madhuparka means offering to the idol of Lord Ganesha something to drink.
Snaana means bathing the idol with milk, curd or ghee.
Vastra or Upaveeta is about offering new clothes to the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Gandha is application of sandalwood paste on the forehead as per tradition.
Pushpa means to offer flowers to the Lord Ganesha.
Dhoopa means fragrant smoke by burning of herbs, considered good for health.
Deepa means light. It's about acknowledging Lord Ganesha in the form of light.
Naivedya is a practice of offering different varieties of dishes to Lord Ganesha.
Taamblooa is the chewing of betel leaf with other herbs, considered to be good for health.
Aarati means showing a big flame of camphor lit diya to Lord Ganesha.
Mantrapushpa is about chanting the mantras and going round (pradakshina) to imply that deity is present in every direction.
When the Shodashopachara is completed, aarti with 108 names of Lord Ganesha is recited along with Ganesh mantras. This aarti admiring the Lord is performed twice a day. Incense sticks are shown to the god and coconuts are offered.
Ganesh Chaturthi is generally celebrated for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. The festival marks its end on Chaturdashi, when the idols of the lord from homes, temples and pandals are taken with a royal procession for immersion with aloud chants of of "Ganapati Bappa Maurya" or "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai", with strong belief that Lord Ganesha would take their sorrows with him while going and earnestly request the Lord to return again soon next year.

Ganesh Chaturthi, birthday of Lord Ganesha, is one of the popular Hindu festivals and falls on 4th of the fortnight of Bhadrapada. This festival is observed throughout India, especially in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Elephant-headed Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is the god of wisdom, knowledge and prosperity. 

Ganesh Chaturthi being the most important of all Maharashtrian festivals is celebrated with splendour and zeal. The festival is celebrated from 5-10 days depending upon the family customs. All these days, puja and aarti are performed, and the devotees are offered modak (a sweet) in the form of prasad (holy offering). Many cultural activities are held during these days of festivities that add on to the enthusiasm of people. On the tenth and last day, people submerge the idols of the Lord in water, with a request to return sooner next year and a faith that he will take their every distress with him while going.

Although the festival lasts for ten days, the arrangements begin with the preparations of idols two to three months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi. These clay idols are huge and are carved by skilled craftsmen, depicting Ganapati in various poses. Then few days before the puja day, people start to clean their houses, or may be get their homes white-washed. Ganesh Mandap or Ganesh Pandal is decorated with flowers and leaves of coconut or banana, several days before the beginning of the festivities. After the cleaning and decking up of the place, the place is prepared for establishment of idol of Lord Ganesha.
People take bath early in the morning on the day of Ganapati puja; they wear new clothes and perform the puja with all the rituals. Idols of Ganesha are bought from the shops and are taken to the homes, temples or pandals with the faces of covered with a saffron cloth. Chanting of prayers in the praise of the Lord continues all the way. These days it is advised to buy eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesha. These idols of Lord Ganesha are then placed at the podium, at a place where puja is held. Ganapati's idols is then beautified with floral garlands and sandalwood paste and A kalash containing holy water or rice is then placed before the Lord's statue, it is known as Purna Kumbha. After this, the prayers are performed to invoke the presence of Lord in the idol by the priest. This ritual is called Pranpratishhtha. Chanting of mantras and hymns takes place while the custom of pranpratishhtha is completed.

After that, a 16-fold praying procedure, Shodashopachara is followed: Aavaahana, Aasana, Paadya, Arghya, Aachamana, Madhuparka, Snaana, Vastra, Gandha, Pushpa, Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedya, Taamblooa, Aarati, and Mantrapushpa.
Aavaahana means 'to invite'.
Aasana means offering our guest the seat. This is called as Aasana Samarpana.
Paadya is to wash the feet of the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Arghya means to wash off the hands.
Aachamana is about taking three gulps of water to smoothen the speech faculty.
Madhuparka means offering to the idol of Lord Ganesha something to drink.
Snaana means bathing the idol with milk, curd or ghee.
Vastra or Upaveeta is about offering new clothes to the idol of Lord Ganesha.
Gandha is application of sandalwood paste on the forehead as per tradition.
Pushpa means to offer flowers to the Lord Ganesha.
Dhoopa means fragrant smoke by burning of herbs, considered good for health.
Deepa means light. It's about acknowledging Lord Ganesha in the form of light.
Naivedya is a practice of offering different varieties of dishes to Lord Ganesha.
Taamblooa is the chewing of betel leaf with other herbs, considered to be good for health.
Aarati means showing a big flame of camphor lit diya to Lord Ganesha.
Mantrapushpa is about chanting the mantras and going round (pradakshina) to imply that deity is present in every direction.
When the Shodashopachara is completed, aarti with 108 names of Lord Ganesha is recited along with Ganesh mantras. This aarti admiring the Lord is performed twice a day. Incense sticks are shown to the god and coconuts are offered.
Ganesh Chaturthi is generally celebrated for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudh Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi. The festival marks its end on Chaturdashi, when the idols of the lord from homes, temples and pandals are taken with a royal procession for immersion with aloud chants of of "Ganapati Bappa Maurya" or "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai", with strong belief that Lord Ganesha would take their sorrows with him while going and earnestly requesting the Lord to return again soon next year.
Ganesh Chaturthi Customs

Idol Making
Artisans begin making the idols of Lord Ganesh two or three months before the main event. The idols are made of clay depicting the deity in various poses. Nowadays artisans put their own thought and imagination in beautifying the idol. The statues range from very small to really tall and big ones.

House Cleaning
A day before Ganesh Chaturthi, people clean and whitewash their houses to freshly welcome the God. A spot is chosen to place the idol and a platform is prepared. Then the house is colorfully decorated. Once the decoration is over, the idol of Lord Ganesha is kept on the podium.

Public/Community Celebration
A lot of public celebrations take place in which many communities raise huge and decorative tents called pandals and place the idols of Lord Ganesha.

The Main Event(s)
The puja is mostly begins towards the noon or the afternoon, depending on the auspicious time and moment, according to the Hindu calendar. All the members of the household or at the pandals gather around the idol. The priest then begins the puja which starts with the revealing of the deity's face, which when brought is covered with a piece of cloth or paper. The rituals that follow are said to fill life into the idol. The priest sips the holy water and bows to Lord Ganesha and continues the aarti. The aarti is accompanied by devotional chanting and songs to the sound of cymbals and bells. The whole atmosphere resonates with this sound. While the puja is being performed, the priest offers various sweets and fruits, which includes the confectionary 'modak' .

Once the puja is over, devotees offer their prayers and chant 'Ganpatibappa Morya' (a slogan). Then the sweets which were offered to Lord Ganesha are distributed among the devotees. This is takes place on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. For the next 10 days the idol is worshipped and with the simple recitation of devotional songs.

The Last Day
On the last or the 11th day, a final worship is performed and the idol is taken to a water source to be immersed. The idol is carried in a procession amidst the chanting of Lord Ganesha's praise and sing devotional songs. The procession may take one whole day.

Above mentioned procedure is the standard manner in which Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated, but there can be slight variations in some rituals in several Hindu communities. Since Ganesh Chaturthi is an age-old festival, people have developed various rituals (e.g. the ones performed by the priest) particular to their community or region. But the basic procedure remains the same throughout the country.