BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.3.3//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:38@srijagannathchicago.org DTSTART:20260914T190000Z DTEND:20260914T230000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T185820Z URL:https://srijagannathchicago.org/events/ganesh-chaturthi-2/ SUMMARY:Ganesh Chaturthi DESCRIPTION:\n\n\n\nWhat Is Ganesh Puja?\nGanesh Puja is the worship of Lor d Ganesha —\; the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati\, and one of the most beloved deities in Hindu tradition. Ganesha is honored as Vigh naharta\, the remover of obstacles\, and Buddhipriya\, the lord of wisdom and intellect\, which is why he is invoked first before any new undertakin g: a wedding\, a new home\, a school year\, a business\, or a prayer to an y other deity.\nGanesh Chaturthi marks his birth anniversary\, observed on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada in the Hindu lunar c alendar —\; typically falling in August or September.\n\nHow It’ \;s Celebrated —\; In India &\; Across the Globe\nIn India\, Ganes h Chaturthi is celebrated on a grand scale\, especially in Maharashtra\, w here clay idols of Ganesha are installed in homes and elaborate community pandals for up to ten days\, with daily aarti\, music\, and cultural progr ams\, before the festival closes with visarjan —\; a procession that immerses the idol in a river\, lake\, or the sea. In other regions of Indi a\, the festival is observed more simply\, with a home puja\, modak offeri ngs\, and family gatherings.\nAcross the diaspora —\; in temples and cultural centers from Chicago to Sydney —\; communities recreate that same spirit\, usually gathered into a single evening or weekend that fits around work and school.\n\nThe Story of Ganesha\nAccording to a well-love d telling\, Parvati created Ganesha from turmeric paste to stand guard whi le she bathed. When Shiva returned and was refused entry by a boy he didn& #8217\;t recognize\, a fight broke out\, and Ganesha’\;s head was sev ered. To console a grieving Parvati\, Shiva sent for the head of the first creature found —\; an elephant —\; and restored Ganesha to life \, declaring him foremost among the gods: the one to be worshipped before any undertaking begins.\n\nWhy Children Love Ganesha\nOf all the deities\, Ganesha tends to be the one children meet first —\; his big ears\, c urious trunk\, round belly\, love of modak\, and loyal mouse companion Mus hak make him instantly approachable. The story of Ganesha racing his broth er Kartikeya around the world —\; and winning by simply circling his parents\, declaring them his whole world —\; is often a child’\; s first lesson in devotion outweighing distance.\nIt’\;s also why mod ak-making\, clay-idol crafting\, and Ganesha coloring pages remain a favor ite way temples and families bring kids into the festival.\n\nIn Schools & amp\; Colleges Across India\nDuring Ganesh Chaturthi\, schools and college s across India —\; not only in Maharashtra —\; install a small G anesha murti on campus\, hold a short puja\, and turn the day into a cultu ral occasion: songs\, skits\, elocution on Ganesha’\;s stories\, and increasingly\, awareness drives for eco-friendly clay idols. For many stud ents\, it’\;s their first hands-on experience organizing a festival & #8212\; a memory that stays with them long after they’\;ve left the c lassroom.\n\nHow We Celebrate at Sri Jagannath Temple\nAt Sri Jagannath Te mple\, we bring that same spirit to our own community here in Aurora. Our Ganesh Chaturthi gathering centers on a community Ganesh Puja and Aarti\, offerings of modak and prasad\, and bhajans sung together as a temple fami ly —\; a chance for grandparents\, parents\, and children to celebrat e side by side\, and for the youngest among us to see the stories theyR 17\;ve heard at home come alive at the temple.\nEveryone in the community is welcome to join us.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n🔵\; Puja Schedule\nMond ay\, September 14\, 2026\n7:00 PM –\; 11:00 PM\nSri Jagannath Temple2 295 Church Rd\, Aurora\, IL 60502\nGanesh Puja &\; Aarti ·\; Moda k &\; Prasad ·\; Community Bhajans\n\n\n\n🙏\; Book an Arch ana\nReserve an Archana or special puja for your family as part of this ce lebration.\nBook a Puja\nMake a General Donation\n\n\n\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://srijagannathchicago.org/wp-content/uploa ds/2024/12/Ganesh-Chaturthi-Event.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR