Getting ready for Ganesh Chaturthi

[Guest guest]

Namaste Karen,

 

To start planning for the next Ganesh Chaturthi you could begin by

learning to read/understand/chant the various prayers to Him. You

could incorporate a few verses in your regular prayer routine. The

4th day of both the bright/dark fortnight of every month is also

recommended for Ganesh worship. So that might be one way to get

started. Keep it simple and expand as time is available.

 

If you wish to prepare sweets for the Deity, cloth, flowers etc. then

you would keep these ready perhaps a day earlier for use in the next

days worship. At the temple, the food/sweets being offered for pujas

are always prepared on the day of the festival.

 

Swamiji emphasizes the need to be organised before the puja. All the

articles of worship should be accessible for the worshipper so that

he/she does not have to get up from their asana once they start the

worship. It definitely helps create a better focus and bhava

(attitude).

 

You could find clay statues on the internet or check out your local

Indian grocery/general store. Linda had a great suggestion in her

post about making one with clay at home and drying it in the oven.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

 

Several years ago, in preparation for Shivaratri, Shree Maa had us

organize the young children to make little clay Shiva lingams. Each

child got to make their own and do puja to it. Since these were not

very big, it did not require to dry them in the oven. We just left

them on a tray to dry. They made little flower garlands, bead

necklaces and even decorated the tray with glitter and ribbon. After

the puja celebration they got to take their little Shivas home. Even

the adults had just as much fun as the kids did!

 

Hope this helps!

Jai Ganesha!

 

Ruk