Ganesh Chaturthi 2018- 5 Places In India You Must Visit To Celebrate Ganesh Utsav

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi, is a popular Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the elephant-headed God, Ganesha. It falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month Bhadrapada, usually in August or September.

The familiar chants and the surrounding festivities along with the food and fun are part and parcel of the Ganesha festival apart from the prayers and pujas. Ganesha is revered as the lord who removes obstacles and the one who brings about good luck.

* Ganapatipule

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 5-day celebration in the Swayambhu Ganapati Temple, where villagers and pilgrims join actively in a procession honouring Lord Ganesha. It is called 'swayambhu' as it is believed that the idol self-manifested from white sand. A taller idol of Lord Ganesha is placed in an ornate palanquin and is carried on the shoulders of the devotees through the village accompanied by a priest and a drummer.

* Mumbai

Mumbai is a spectacle during the days of Ganesh Chaturthi - it is alive with devotional songs, dances and drum beats. Visit Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Samiti Mandal at Wadala to enjoy a darshan of the richest Ganesha in Mumbai. Also, visit Lalbaugcha Raja which is not a shrine but a community organised festival. Huge crowds come to visit Lord Ganesha and at times it takes over 20 hours to reach the idol.

* Pune

The festival is celebrated with much fervour for ten days - it starts with the establishment of idols of Lord Ganesha on the first day to immersion of the Lord's idols on the tenth day. Kasba Ganpati, Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganpati, Guruji Talim, Tulsi Baug Ganpati and the Kesariwada Ganpati are some of most unmissable Ganesh idols in the city.

* Bangalore

Most popular celebrations happen in Panchamukha Heramba Ganapati Temple, Shri Jambu Ganapati Temple and Ananth Nagar Ganapati Temple. Do not forget to catch the immersion spectacle at Sankey Tank and Ulsoor Lake.

* Hyderabad

One of the most famous festivals in Hyderabad, Ganapathi Navaratri festivities starts on Vinayaka Chavithi (Ganesh Chaturthi) and ends on Ananta Chaturdashi day with idol immersion. The famous places where Ganesha idols are established and decorated fascinatingly are Khairatabad, Balapur, Kamalanagar Chaitanyapuri, Durgam Cheruvu, Old City (Gowlipura) and New Nagole.