Ganesh Puja Celebrations Bring Festive Spirit to Purapalli
Kakatpur | 06/09/2024
Report by: Tushar Dixit
Tomorrow marks the celebration of Ganesh Puja, also known as Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival is celebrated with grandeur in schools, colleges, and other institutions. It is also regarded as the worship of the remover of obstacles, Lord Vighnaraj (another name for Ganesh). Ganesh is considered the foremost deity — worshipped before the start of any religious ritual or puja.
Known as the destroyer of obstacles, Lord Ganesh ensures smooth beginnings. On the occasion of Ganesh Puja, here are some popular folktales related to the deity. Vighnaraj Sri Ganesh is described as having a single tusk, a compassionate nature, and four arms. One story narrates that when Goddess Parvati was bathing, she rubbed turmeric paste off her body and created a figure from it, which she found so beautiful that she gave it life — and named him Ganesh.
The story of how Ganesh got his elephant head is also well-known. Lord Shiva, who was unaware of Ganesh’s creation, once returned to find him guarding the entrance while Parvati was bathing. As Ganesh did not recognize Shiva, he stopped him from entering. Enraged, Shiva severed Ganesh’s head. Upon Parvati’s explanation, Shiva searched for a replacement head and eventually placed the head of an elephant on Ganesh’s body.
It is also believed that Ganesh was the one who wrote the Mahabharata. When Sage Vyasa decided to compose the Mahabharata, he needed someone intelligent enough to understand and transcribe it as he dictated. Ganesh was chosen for this task. Under one condition, Ganesh was not allowed to interrupt or ask any questions while writing. During the process, when his writing instrument broke, he broke off one of his tusks and continued writing with it — hence he is known as Ekdanta, the one with a single tusk.
As Ganesh Puja approaches, educational institutions and clubs across Kakatpur and Astarang are buzzing with activity. Although the Meteorological Department has predicted rainfall in coastal Odisha until the 9th of September, all puja committees have made necessary preparations to ensure smooth celebrations.
