Ganpati Bappa Morya!

India is a nation widely known for its culturally rich heritage and traditions. It is an abode for different religions living together in harmony and peace, imparting their respective cultures and traditional touch in each and every state. Among 33 million gods in India, Ganesh is the god who is always worshipped first in every prayer.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Ganesh Chaturthi, traditionally known as Vinayaka Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaviti, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the elephant head god. Ganesh is believed to be the deity that can end obstacles and kickstart auspicious beginnings. Thus, the festival is celebrated on a grand scale with much intensity and devotion toward the pantheon’s most secularly worshipped deity. It usually takes place in the Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar and is celebrated for ten days.

And, during these ten days, you are supposed to bring small Ganesh idols to your home, perform an Aarti followed by the Visarjan – a holy ritual that takes place on the tenth day where the idol of Ganesha is immersed in a water body.

So, let’s see how to decorate your home to ensure a grand welcome for the Lord of new beginnings.

#1. Flower Decoration for Ganpati

There is no puja or prayer that is considered complete without the sweet fragrance and vibrant beauty of flowers. Flowers – colorful and beautiful treasures bestowed upon us by Mother Nature – form a significant part of Hindu worshipping and are considered as a must when offerings are made to Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

On this festival, devotees can decorate their homes with flowers to impress Lord Ganesha. In addition, when you are decorating your house with flowers and with complete devotion, it will help increase the positive energy around you.

Here are some ideas:

• You can make a flower garland and hang it anywhere in your house or you can even lay it at the feet of Ganpati’s idol. The shoe flower, balsams or golden champas are usually favored for the festival and a string of these flowers would look elegant and graceful in your house.
• Another simple idea is to make beautiful flower bouquets and to offer them to Lord Ganesha. Hibiscus, for example, is a common flower offered for Ganesh puja.

#2. Ganpati Lighting Decoration

Traditional Hindu beliefs dictate that no Hindu festival or puja is complete without lights. Even the most sacred space in your home – the pooja room – should be glowing gloriously with lights.

Here are some ideas to light up your home and your celebration:

• Indoors: You could cover your ceiling with string lights or invest in tiny spotlights. Panel lighting in the pooja room is a huge trend today. And, if you are looking for lots of “twinkle twinkle”, try electric lights. You could also go all-traditional and place diyas in corners to define a room.

   

• Outdoors: It is impossible not to step outside to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. So, light up your garden with great bulb lights and you could also wrap trees with string lights.

#3. Ganpati Mandap Decoration

As per Hindu beliefs, Lord Ganesha, encapsulated in a magnificent form, is the patron of intellectuals, bankers, scribes and even authors. As he is the god of prosperity and wealth, he deserves to be revered on a royal throne.

So, here are some ideas for a majestic Ganpati mandap decoration at home:

• Choose a nice swing and decorate it with a yellow/red/orange saree along with some garland strings.
• We recommend enhancing the mandap with soft yet bright LED lights.
• Place a nice statue of Lord Ganesha on top of a wooden stool and decorate it with some leaves and beautiful flowers.
• Oh and don’t forget the incense sticks, lamps and sweets.

Decorating your home for Ganpati can be such a fun-filled experience, isn’t it?