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Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the biggest festivals in India and more so in western India. It is the biggest festival in Mumbai, the virtual capital of India.
The festival is celebrated in the hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). This typically comes sometime between 20th of Aug and 15th of September.
During the festivals, a household worships an idol of Shri Ganesha made from clay. The worship happens for 1 day in South India, but in western states of Maharashtra and Goa, the worship may last from 2 to 7 days.
The main sweet-dish during the period is modakas, also known as modagams in South India and karanjis. A modaka is a sort of dumpling made from rice flour with a stuffing of coconut, jaggery and some other condiments. It can be either steam-cooked or fried and the coconut can be fresh-grated or dried-grated. A karanji is similar but has the shape of the 4th day moon.
There are also public celebrations of the festival, with local communities (mandals) vying with each other to put up the biggest idol. The festival is the time for a lot of cultural activities like songs and dramas and orchestra.
See Also
Hindu festivals
External Links
Ganesha Janmotsav -Birth of Lord Ganesha (http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/ganeshchaturthi.htm)
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