Ganesh Chaturthi, the festival of Lord Ganesh, the Lord of Wisdom and Remover of Obstacles, is celebrated with the greatest pomp and fervour in Maharashtra. The festival starts on Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi, which is the 4th day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad. The first day of this 10-day festival is called Ganesh Chaturthi.

This festival is celebrated in most homes in Maharashtra, and also on a community level on a larger scale. The occasion is marked by bringing an idol of Lord Ganesh to the house, or on a social level to a decorated panda! (pavilion) and holy rituals are conducted to invoke divinity (pranapratishhtha) into the idol.

The Ganesh festival or Ganeshotsav was given a public form by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak, during the struggle for independence, with an aim to bring people together. The tradition has continued long after independence and in Mumbai and Pune there are thousands of Ganesh mandals (committees) that host Ganesh idols, one of the most famous being 'Lalbaugcha Raja', said to be a icchopurti Ganesh (one who grants the wish of the devotee).


The pandals are an attraction in themselves, with various mythological, social, political and contemporary themes being set up, making it a platform to bring about awareness of social and political issues, along with entertainment. These places also serve as the venues for free medical checkups, blood donation camps, charity for the poor, dramatic performances, etc. during the days of the festival.

The eleventh day of the festival is called Ananto Chaturdashi, the day on which Lord Ganesh, is given a ritual see-off, and is believed to start his journey back to his abode in Kailash. This is done by immersing the idols in a river, lake or sea. The immersion procession is also a spectacular sight with the entire procession of people singing, dancing on the streets, chanting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchyo Vorsho Laukar yo" (O father Ganesha, please come again early next year).