Today, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, dedicated to Lord Ganesh—the deity known for removing obstacles and worshipping first in any religious ceremony—is celebrated. This festival is observed annually on the fourth day of the waxing moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadr Shukla Chaturthi), which falls the day after the Haritalika (Teej) festival.
According to ancient scriptures, Lord Ganesh was born on this auspicious day during the Satya Yuga. To mark the occasion, special prayers and ceremonies are held at Ganesh temples across the country, including those at Ashok Vinayak, Chandra Vinayak, Surya Vinayak, Kamal Vinayak, and Kamaladi Ganesh, among others.
Lord Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is revered for his role as the deity of auspicious beginnings and is worshipped at the start of all religious rituals. As per the religious beliefs, the fasting and worship of Ganesh on this day ensure that one’s life is free of obstacles. Devotees complete the Haritalika (Teej) fast in the morning and then conduct Ganesh worship and offerings in the noon, as explained by Pradapani Bhattarai, a member of the Nepal Panchang Determination Development Committee and a scholar of religious scriptures.
The Ganesh Chaturthi festival is also known as Mangal Chaturthi. The Newar community celebrates it as “Chatha,” and a traditional custom involves distributing sweets called ‘Chusya Musya’ to children. Since 2008 B.S. (Bikram Sambat), the day following Ganesh Chaturthi has also seen Ganesh Rath Yatra (procession) in Kathmandu and other major cities. Additionally, September 7th marks the anniversary of the establishment of the National Dharma Sabha in 2007 B.S., making it a significant day for both religious and cultural reasons.
