Ganesh Chaturthi 2024: Here's why you should not see the ¡®Moon¡¯ on Vinayaka Chaturthi

In India, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most vibrant and grandly celebrated festivals, especially in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. This festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. People worship Lord Ganesha for blessings of wealth, good fortune, and success. In 2024, Ganesh Chaturthi will start on September 7 and end on September 17.

Preparations for the festival include setting up temporary pandals (decorated structures) with large statues of Ganesha in various cities. Devotees visit these pandals to pray and seek the blessings of the god, known for his wisdom, knowledge, and prosperity. Many families also place smaller idols of Ganesha in their homes, offering prayers with their friends and neighbours for a prosperous year. This article will guide you on how to make the most of Ganesh Chaturthi by following the correct timings (Shubh Muhurat) and Puja steps (Puja Vidhi).

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 Timings and Rituals

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Madhyahna Ganesha Puja Time: The best time to do the Ganesh Puja is during the Madhyahna, which refers to the middle of the day in the Hindu time system. In 2024, this special time for the Ganesha Puja is from 11:04 AM to 1:35 PM, giving devotees 2 hours and 31 minutes to complete the rituals.

One important tradition during Ganesh Chaturthi is to avoid looking at the moon. It is believed that seeing the moon on this day brings Mithya Dosha, which means false accusations or blame. To avoid this, devotees should not look at the moon between 9:30 AM and 8:46 PM on September 7, 2024. If someone accidentally sees the moon, they can chant the mantra "Simhah Prasenamavadhitsimho Jambavata Hatah, Sukumaraka Marodistava Hyesha Syamantakah" to remove the curse.

Time to avoid Moonsighting

People must avoid Moon sightings a day before Ganesha Chaturthi. Thus, to avoid the Moon sighting, from 09:30 AM to 08:45 PM.

Why We Should Not See Moon On Ganesh Chaturthi?

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On Ganesh Chaturthi, it is often said by elders that you should not look at the moon. Have you ever wondered why? If you're curious about the reason behind this, here's the explanation.

This belief comes from an interesting Hindu myth. The story says that Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, was invited to a grand feast by Lord Kubera, the god of wealth.

King Kubera, being proud of his riches, looked down on Lord Shiva for living a simple life in the mountains. When Kubera invited Shiva to his palace, Shiva declined and sent Ganesha instead. Ganesha not only ate all the food prepared for the feast but also ate everything in Kubera¡¯s city.

Later that evening, as Ganesha traveled on his mouse, he met the moon, Chandra. The moon, known for being playful, laughed at Ganesha's appearance, especially seeing the snake around his belly.

Ganesha, upset by the moon¡¯s mocking laughter, became angry and cursed the moon. He declared that anyone who looked at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi would be falsely blamed and ridiculed for a whole year.

Frightened by this curse, the moon apologized to Ganesha. Moved by the apology, Ganesha softened the curse, making it last for just one day¡ªon Ganesh Chaturthi.

Because of this story, people avoid looking at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi to avoid the curse. This tale not only entertains but also teaches the values of humility and respect in Hindu culture.

In another story, as per Drik Panchang, Lord Krishna was once wrongly blamed for stealing a valuable gem called Syamantaka after he accidentally saw the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi. Sage Narada told him about the Mithya Dosham and explained the cause of the curse.

To get rid of this curse, Lord Krishna fasted on Ganesh Chaturthi, following the sage's advice. Now, the reason behind avoiding looking at the Moon on Chaturthi is understood. If you accidentally see the Moon, you can follow Lord Krishna¡¯s example and fast on Ganesh Chaturthi to remove the curse.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2024 FAQ:

Q. What is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated for?

Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, who is known as the God of new beginnings, and wisdom, and the one who removes obstacles.

Q. Why is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated for 10 days?

According to the story, Lord Shiva once beheaded Ganesha. To fix his mistake, he gave Ganesha the head of an elephant. This event is remembered during Ganesh Chaturthi, which is celebrated for 10 days to honour Ganesha's birth and his return to his mother, Parvati.

Q. What does Ganesh Chaturthi represent?

This colourful and grand festival is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God of wisdom, wealth, and fresh starts. It is an important festival in Hindu culture that brings people together to pray, celebrate, and strengthen community bonds.

Q. What is the importance of Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi signifies the cycle of life, from birth to death. When the Ganesha idol is immersed in water, it is believed that he takes away the problems from the home, destroying them as he returns to the Earth.

Q. Can we keep Ganpati for 3 days?

The length of time Ganesha stays at home depends on family traditions or personal choices:

1.5 days: For a short celebration.3 days: A common duration, balancing celebration and practicality.7 days: A longer period for worship.10 days: The traditional festival length.

Permanently: Some keep Ganesha at home as a symbol of constant blessings and devotion.

Q. What is the key point of Ganesh Chaturthi?

Ganesh Chaturthi honours Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, and celebrates his birth. People worship Ganesha before starting new journeys, business ventures, or intellectual pursuits, believing he brings order and success.

Q. Why is Lord Ganesha immersed in water?

The immersion of Ganesha's idol symbolizes the life cycle. Since Ganesha was created from Earth, his clay idol is returned to the water to mark the end of his stay in the home or temple during the festival.

Q. Who started Ganesh Chaturthi?

The 10-day Ganesh Utsav, ending with the Visarjan, became popular thanks to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He promoted its widespread celebration during India's independence movement.

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