Holiday on 22 August 2020 due to Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi Kab Hai 2020
Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 falls on Saturday, 22 August this year as per DOPT order holiday 2020. The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the most significant Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Ganesh Chaturthi is not a public holiday across India. It is a regional holiday that is celebrated only in certain states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Even in these states, it is not mandatory for an employer to declare the Ganesha Festival as a holiday.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is one of the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus that marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. During this ten-day festival, devotees worship idols of the elephant-headed God who is also known as the Remover of Obstacles and the God of New beginning.
According to Hindi Panchang, Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayak Chaturthi is on the Chaturthi Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. This year Ganesh Chaturthi is on Saturday, 22 August. According to mythological beliefs, Vighnaharta Shri Ganesh Ji was born on the day of Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi, hence Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated on this day. On the day of Ganesh Janmotsava, special worship of Ganapati is done, so that they can destroy all the hazards of a person’s life and fulfill his wishes.
History of Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh may also be known by the names Ganapati, Ekadanta, Vinayaka, Pillaiyar and Heramba. This remains one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the Country, partly because Ganesh is one of the most popular deities for worship. His blessings are often invoked at religious ceremonies as he is the one who can remove all obstacles to success, particularly when people are starting a new business or enterprise. Ganesh is known as the giver of fortune and one who can help to avoid natural calamities. Ganesh is also the patron god of travelling.
Ganesh is depicted with an elephant’s head on a human body and in the Hindu tradition, he is the son of Lord Shiva and the Goddess Parvati.
How people celebrated
In certain parts of India, such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the festival is celebrated for ten days and is a very public occasion. Elsewhere it may celebrated in homes, where hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh. Sweets are a common offering as Hindu legend has it that Ganesh liked them.
On the day of the festival, clay idols of Ganesh are placed in homes or outdoor in decorated tents for people to view and pay their homage. Priests will then invokes life into the idols while mantras are chanted, in a ritual known as ‘prana pratishtha’.
Many of the Ganesh idols will be placed outside under Bodhi Trees (Sacred Fig). The Bodhi tree is revered as a great source of remedies and is used to treat up to 50 different ailments. It also has a unique ability in that it can produce Oxygen at night-time instead of Carbon Dioxide. These healthy aspects of the tree make it a popular place for people to to worship at, as it is seen a great healer to naturally cure illnesses.
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