Celebrating Our Beloved Ganesha

“Veena Dharini Gaavat Raagini Bhoopali Rasa Shanta Vahini”

Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is revered as the remover of obstacles. He is the God of intellect, or buddhi and is known to be a patron of the arts.

Any event in the Vedic culture commences with an invocation to Lord Ganesha. 

Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated far and wide across the Indian subcontinent. Devotees make (or buy) clay MURTI or form of Lord Ganesha and invite Him into their homes. They decorate His altar carefully, with love and devotion. The festival is 10 days long, at the end of which the clay idol is submerged in water.

But how does Lord Ganesha & this festival relate to music?

Lord Ganesha is known as a patron of the arts. Murtis of Ganesha can be seen dancing, playing the Veena, or even playing the flute. Though he is more often worshiped as the remover of obstacles, Ganesha is known as one who is clever in music. He is known as the inner soul of music, often synonymous with Aum, the pranava mantra.

Moreover, practically, throughout the festival of Ganesha Chaturthi, bhajans/kirtans/aarits are used as the primary form of devotion. This festival brings a community together with a single goal–to sing praises of Lord Ganesha and ask for blessings from the remover of obstacles. When a group of people come together & sing in unison, there is a divine energy in the atmosphere that is unmatched; an energy that can only be created through devotional or spiritual music.

In this environment, everyone momentarily forgets their differences and comes together as one.