Magha Ganesh Jayanti: Get Rid Of Gender Stereotypes And Embrace Innocence And Kindness

Today, Hindus across India are celebrating Magha Ganesh Jayanti. Etymologically, Ganesh Jayanti means the birthday of Lord Ganesha, one of the most beloved deities of Hindu religion. The festival is also known as Magha Ganesh Chaturthi, Maghi Ganesh Jayanti, Magha Shukla Chaturthi, Tilkund Chaturthi, and Varad Chaturthi. Chaturthi means the fourth state, day or month. Ganesh Chaturthi is observed every month on the fourth day of the bright fortnight or Shukla Paksha (hence Shukla Chaturthi). Since this Ganesh Chaturthi appears in the Magha month of Hindu Calendar, it is known as Maghi Ganesh Jayanti. You can know more about Shukla Chaturthi here. 

How it is celebrated:

On Magha Ganesh Jayanti day devotees observe a full-day fast and worship Lord Ganesha. Especially in Goa and Maharashtra, devotees install small to big sizes of Lord Ganesha’s idol and worship it. Offering red clothes, red flowers and red sweets is considered auspicious on this day. Devotees also visit Lord Ganesha’s temple on this day to seek his blessings. Major Lord Ganesha’s temples like Ashtavinayaka temples, Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, Ganpatipule temple, Morshwar Temple are beautifully decorated to commemorate this day.

Devotees observe fast on this day to achieve success and get rid pf all the problems in life. Even though Lord Ganesha is considered to be celibate, some couples worship him on this day to seek a son.

The history behind Magha Ganesha Jayanti festival

As the name suggests, Ganesh Jayanti marks the day of the birth of Lord Ganesha. As per mythologies, Lord Ganesha was created out of clay (or turmeric paste as per some beliefs) by Goddess Parvati who also breathed life into what was initially an idol of human. Later, after some disputes and misunderstandings, Lord Shiva accepted him as his son. So Ganesh Chaturthi is considered auspicious because on this day Lord Shiva declared his son Lord Ganesha as the most superior of all the Hindu Gods.

 Moreover, it is also believed that on Ganesh Jayanti, no one should sight the moon. This is because as per mythology, Lord Ganesha had cursed Chandra Dev for making fun of him. 

Festival from the feminist lens

Although the fast on this day is not inherently gender-specific, it is mainly women who observe the fast. In the Hindu religion, men have the power to be an atheist without any objection or obligation at the hands of society. Moreover, offering prayers especially for childbirth and marriage reinforces the importance or inevitability of motherhood and marriage in society. The fact that if a couple is not able to reproduce or a man or a woman is not getting married has to go through severe fast and rituals point out that marriage or parenthood is a necessity and not an option. Furthermore, even if a couple wants to have a child, it is time that their wish should get rid of male-child preference.

However, if we get rid of gender stereotypes, then Ganesh Jayanti can be a beautiful festival of devotion, enthusiasm and togetherness. Especially, Lord Ganesha is the favourite deity of children and hence embodies innocence and kindness that the world needs today. 

Find the list of days and dates of all the Hindu vrats and festivals of the year 2021 here.

Views expressed are the author's own.