Ganesha Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Ganeshotsav, is a Hindu festival that
tributes Hindu deity Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha’s
clay murtis (devotional representations of a deity) privately in homes and publicly on
elaborate pandals (temporary stages). Observances include chanting of Vedic hymns and Hindutexts, such as prayers and vrata (fasting). Offerings and prasada from the daily prayers, that aredistributed from the pandal to the community, include sweets such as modak as it is believedtobe a favourite of Lord Ganesha.The festival ends on the tenth day after start, when the Murti is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in a nearby bodyof
water such as a river or sea, called visarjana on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 Murtis are immersed annually.Thereafter the clay Murti dissolves and Ganeshaisbelieved to return to his celestial abode.