Journalism of Courage
An important festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindu community in India and around the world, Ganesh Chaturthi marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh, who is also known and hailed as the 'Remover of Obstacles'. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
In this photo gallery, we look at how India is celebrating the festival this year, which essentially marks the Lord's arrival to Earth from his abode in Mount Kailash, where he is believed to reside with his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
The 11-day festival will begin on August 31, 2022 and during the festive period -- which marks the beginning of all festivals that are celebrated in the latter part of the year, such as Navratri/Durga Puja, Dussehra and Diwali -- Lord Ganesh will be worshipped for wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)
In days leading up to the festival this year, people in Pune were photographed doing some last-minute shopping, mainly of idols, which will be placed and worshipped in their houses for the auspicious 11-day period. (Express photo by Arul Horizon)
In this photo, devotees were seen loading an idol of Ganesha or the elephant-headed deity onto a train going to Surat from Mumbai, ahead of the Chaturthi festival. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
The festival is a huge event in the state of Maharashtra where, every year, thousands of devotees take to the streets to commemorate the birth of Ganesh. They sing, dance, play music and take part in the festivities with a lot of passion. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
In this picture, devotees were seen parading colossal idols of the lord through the streets of Central Mumbai ahead of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
As is the case with all Indian festivals, decorating the house is a major component. As such, people were photographed buying garlands and other such items ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi this year, at Mumbai's Vile Parle. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
'Gauri' -- another name for Goddess Durga -- is also worshipped as part of the festivities. Her idols were on sale at Central Mumbai's Lalbaug. Hailed as the mother of Lord Ganesh, the deity is worshipped throughout India during the Ganapati festival. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
In Mumbai, devotees were photographed parading an idol of Lord Ganesh during a procession ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
Another such sight in Mumbai, wherein devotees were seen dancing and taking part in the revelry of bringing the idol home. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
Devotees brought a mammoth idol of Lord Ganesh home ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai and it made for a beautiful procession. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
People participate in the making of clay Ganesh idols to promote and support an eco-friendly festival as part of 60th Bangalore Ganesh Utsav at National College Grounds, Bengaluru. (Express photo by Jithendra M)
Ahead of the festival, a group of drummers was seen rehearsing and jamming together under a flyover near Kanjurmarg in east central Mumbai. The 'dhol' is a traditional musical instrument that plays a huge part in the celebrations, boosting the morale of devotees and entertaining them. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Residents of Bengaluru were also spotted doing some last-minute shopping ahead of the much-awaited festival, mainly of idols and paraphernalia to decorate houses and public places. (Express photo by Jithendra M)
Stunning, isn't it? This idol was unveiled on Tuesday. It is the Ganesh Galli Ganpati in the central part of the city of Mumbai. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Decked in traditional Maharashtrian attire, a family was clicked bringing home a Ganesh idol on the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune's Kasba Peth, one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the city. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)
Devotees thronged the Chinchpoklicha Chintamani pandal on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Devotees at the Girgaon Cha Raja pandal on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Take a look at how Mumbai’s oldest Ganpati pandal Keshavji Naik Chawl, welcomed the idol of Lord Ganesh. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)
People took to the streets to participate in the Tulsi Baug Ganpati procession in the city of Pune. (Express photo by Pavan Khengre)
