Idols of Lord Ganesha for sale in Gulbai tekra, Ahmedabad

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Crafted blessings. Ganesh Chaturthi

Get ready to dance and paint the town red; it's Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival honours Ganesha, revered as the Hindu deity of fresh starts and the dispeller of challenges, along with being the embodiment of wisdom and intellect. Celebrated across the Indian subcontinent, it brings together people in a joyous observance. The exact origins of the festival are not clear, but it has been a prominent public celebration in Pune since the time of King Shivaji, who ruled from 1630 to 1680. Later freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar popularised it in Maharashtra in 1893. This move aimed to foster a 'Hindu nationalist identity' and resist British colonial rule.

Ganesh Chaturthi is observed with the installation of clay Ganesha idols both in homes and in grand public displays set up on temporary stages called pandals. The festivities conclude with a grand public procession, featuring music and collective chanting. On Ananta Chaturdashi, or the tenth day, the idol is carried to a nearby river or sea for immersion, known as 'visarjana'. After this, the clay idol dissolves, symbolising Ganesha's return to his heavenly abode.