History Festivals are an integral part of human cultural life. From ancient times they have been celebrated not only in India but also in different parts of the world. 'Olympian' celebrated by Greeks, 'Pithian' to promote poetry writing and 'Nimiyan' to exhibit skills in martial arts are, to name a few, some of the festivals celebrated outside India in ancient times. The Ganesh festival, which has its origins in Maharashtra in India, has been celebrated for over a century.   In the good old days Ganesh festival was a purely family affair. According to the eminent historian Shri Rajwade, records reveal that it was celebrated even during the reigns of Satwahana, Rashtrakuta and Chalukya. There are also references in historical records to similar celebrations during Peshwa times, Lord Ganapati being the family deity of the Peshwas. The celebration would commence on the first day of the month of Bhadrapada and would go on for ten days. Years later it became a practice to end the festivities on 'Anant Chaturdashi' with the immersion of the Ganapati idol in water. The celebrations were universally popular with rich and poor alike. The poor were given sweets and clothes. Upper caste Brahmins were fed on delicious meals. On the concluding day, the idol of Lord Ganesh was carried in a beautifully decorated palanquin in a ceremonial procession and taken to the river for immersion. The last of the Ganesh festivals during the Peshwa regime was celebrated in the year 1815 when Bajirao II held the power. The year 1818 saw the end of Peshwa rule with Union Jack being unfurled on the great Shaniwar-Wada. Among the valuables the Britishers took away was a 'ruby'eyed Ganesh idol made in pure gold studded with diamonds and rubies. It was reportedly valued at £ 50000 in those days. After the end of Peshwa rule, from 1818 to 1892 Ganesh Festival remained a family affair in Maharashtra. Emulating the example of Peshwas, princely states of Baroda and Gwalior too involved common people in the Ganesh festival. Lokmanya Tilak was witness in 1892 where he saw the grand scale on which the festival was celebrated in Gwalior and the enthusiastic participation of people therein. This alone inspired him to make the Ganesh festival a public event in Maharashtra. However it needs to be mentioned here that social and political conditions of those times seemed ripe for making such a move.       --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post Your Message     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments   Posted By : sajeeshkumar 01/29/2010 13:01:30 because it is cotinuasly atleast nine days people will celibrate.. Posted By : balu 01/29/2010 00:54:48 Ganpati Bappa Moooooooraya Posted By : Gandh Jayesh 01/21/2010 18:34:11 My Dear Friends of web maker Plese collect informtion of Ashtvinayak Ganpati located at Various Places near Pune city of Maharshtra. I had visited this place 15 days back.This are the best places for pilgrims. Various Ganpati places are as given below Lenandri Ganpati . Ozar Ganpati .Ranjangaon Ganpati . Morgaon Ganpati Siddhtek Ganpari . Theoor Ganpati . Mahad Ganpati .Pali Ganpati. To visit this places from Mumbai 3 days required. During my visit I had visited Prati Sirdi and Prati Balaji. Also visited Yogiraj Shankar Mharaj Math naer Katraj Dairy at PuneBhoosari.Visited Gagagangiri Maharaj Math at Khpoli near Lonavala. I found this places as best pilgrims places. This visit only happen due to faith in Ganpatibapa. Ganpatibapa Morya. Hope i will Visit again with my family Posted By : Ashok Patel 01/20/2010 10:51:27 Festival of life .... Posted By : suresh 01/19/2010 18:17:46 SuklamBharadaramVishnumSashivarnamChaturbujam Ganshmaharajkijai Posted By : vinod kumar 01/14/2010 17:46:55 happy dhiwali Posted By : vinod kumar 01/13/2010 10:05:48 jay ganesh Posted By : vinod kumar 01/10/2010 20:11:18 Christamas coz its the King of all festivals Posted By : vinod kumar 01/09/2010 11:14:47 every one should be happy Posted By : vinod kumar 01/08/2010 14:22:15 PLZ BLESS ME GOD... Posted By : vinod kumar 01/04/2010 14:50:12 Wish you all the best for all the festivals Posted By : vinod kumar 01/02/2010 19:49:29 vakratunda mahakay koti surya samapraba! nirvignam kurume dev ! sarva karyesu sarvada ! Posted By : vinod kumar 01/01/2010 17:49:26 Have faith in him and leave all at his feet, he knows what we deserve and he will bless with what we deserve not what we want cause what we want cant make us happy compared to what we deserve. So be confident and work towards your dreams and goals, he will guide us and bless our path with good things. He is the best friend of all.Thank you Ganesha for blessing our life in your wonderful way. Posted By : Ashish Chaddha 10/14/2009 23:41:54 HAPPY DEPAWALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Posted By : Jeff As alwaysxxx 10/12/2009 21:14:49 Namaste I send you my very best wishes for Diwali As always, Jeff MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS & WISHES BE FULFILLED Posted By : ramaa chopra 10/08/2009 18:50:39 Om Ganganpatai Namah Posted By : Dr Sanjay 10/02/2009 17:27:07 Aum gam ganapatiye namonamah, shree siddhi vinayak namo namah, ashta vinayak namo namah , GANPATI BAPA MORIYA. Posted By : Dr Sanjay 10/02/2009 17:14:00 very nice pooja .It seems as if we have performed in the temple.Now we can have all the avatars of Lord Ganesha just a click away in our house. Posted By : Guest 09/24/2009 21:47:24 Get all virtues in this world with the prayer. Ganeshji blesses good people who recite the below and cuts evil from the root immediately Om Namo Maha Ganapathyae Maha veeraya dhasbujaaya Madhana kaala vinashana Miruthum hana hana yama yama madha madha Kaalam sambara sambara Sarva grahan joornaya joornaya Naagan moodaya moodaya Rudhra rupa thribuvaneshwara Sarvodho mugha Hum bhat swaha Om Namo Ganapathayae Swethartha Ganapathaye Swethartha moola nivaasaaya vashudeva priyaya Dakshu prajaapathi rakshakaaya Surya varadhaaya Kumaara Guravae Brahmadha surasura vandhithaaya Sarava bushanaaya Sashaanga Shekaraya Sarva maalalankrtha dehaya Dharmatvajaaya dharma vaahanaaya Dhraahi Dhraahi dehi dehi avathara avathara Gam Ganapathaye vakra thunda Ganapathyae Vara varadha sarva purusha vashankara Sarva dushta mruthava shankara Sarvasva vashankara Vashi guru vashi guru Sarva dhoshan vandhaya vandhya Sarva vyaadhin nikrundhya nikrundhya Sarva vishani sambara sambara Sarva daarithyam mochya mochaya Sarva vignyan chindhi chindhi Sarva vajrani shodaya shodaya sarva sathru uchadaya uchadaya sarva siddhim guru guru sarav kaaryani sadhaya sadhaya Gaam Gheem Ghoom Ghaim Goum Gham Ganapathayae Hum bhat swaha Posted By : anup mishra 09/24/2009 18:06:46 Jai Ganpati bappa ki... humpar kripa banaye rakhna. 1 2 3 4 5             Bindaas Poll | MeraGang | GlamnGlory | Bindaas Photos | Bindaas Jokes | Bindaas News | Bindaas Travel | Bindaas Fashion Jai Shree Ganesha | Ganesh Festival 2009 | Ganpati Festival in Maharashtra | Ganpati Bappa | Ganpati Bappa Photos