Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Maharashtra is an important and most celebrated occasion. In 2016, Ganesh Chaturthi festival date is September 5.
Lord Ganesh is worshipped with utmost devotion in the state of Maharashtra. Throughout Maharashtra, right from the small village to city like Mumbai, celebrates Ganesh Navratri with great importance.
In Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Solapur Ganesh festival is a jubilant event. In Maharashtra, Ganapati idol is placed in Ganesh Pandal or mandaps and worshipped for ten days. Starting from Ganesh Chavithi, till the day of Anant Chaturdashi, Ganesh Navratri is celebrated. On Anant Chaturdashi day, Ganesh Nimajjan or Vinayaka Visarjan is commenced.
In every household and pandals, Ganesh utsav is started with installation of Ganesh idol on Ganesh Chavithi. The pujas and celebrations are continued till the tenth day i.e. Anant Chaturdashi, and on Anant Chaturdashi day, devotees take out the idols for procession and nimajjan or immersion is commenced, amidst chanting the slogan ‘Ganapati Bappa Moriya.
I always wanted to ask this question, but did not know how it will be received.
In mumbai there is lot of chadava and gifts given to ganpati lord during 10 day celebration, but during the visarjan day, all the jewels and gold given by bhakts are taken away from lord during immersion.
Is that right ? gifts given to god must be with god all the time, why is their a distinction between expensive jewels and ordinary clothes which remain with god in immersion.
I know conventional wisdom that, its expensive and people will steal it anyway once god is immersed and anyway during following year the jewels are again put in place.
BUT, does lord distinguish between rich and the poor? and is it right to take away what has been given to god at first place?
Thanks