Kids and Ganesha Chathurthi Festival 

Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as Lord Ganesha's birthday by the Hindus throughout the world. He is known as the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. This festival is also known as Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayak Chavithi. It is celebrated with pomp and show in the Hindu calendar month of Bhadra that usually falls in between mid August and mid September.

Lord Ganesha is considered as the God of power and wisdom. There are various stories associated that show how cleverly and coolly he used to deal with complicated matters. There are several names given to the Lord after all his good doings like Gajanana, Dhoomraketu, Ekdanta, Vakratunda, Sidhdhi Vinayaka and many more.

Undoubtedly its a family festival but kids enjoy it very much as they do with Diwali and Holi. Ganehsha is a kids friendly god,his pooja doesn't need much of rituals to follow. Just make a clay Ganesha bring flowers and perform the pooja with patri (Leaves)and flowers.

To make it much more enjoyable and knowledgeable for kids elders should make it point to involve children in each every aspect of the pooja like decoration of Gods mandap,making clay Ganesha , collecting leaves for pooja etc. Keep telling them the importance of each leaf you are using in the pooja. Let them understand the importance of doing clay Ganesha to protect the environment.

Explain the virtues of lord Ganesha and how they can be imbibed into life. For Example his big ears tell us hear more, his  trunk depicts eating sweet balls or laddu it is an indication for material prosperity and comforts. Ganesha’s hands depict philosophy of Hinduism. In one hand he holds Lotus, symbolizing beauty of reality and enlightenment.

In second hand he holds an axe or a hatchet, sometime a chakra or noose that signify detachment from all past karma, and narrow beliefs.Ganesha has one tusk, and he is also called Ek-Danta. Mudgal Purana relates that single tusk denotes singularity of Nature or the Absolute Truth of Universe.

Lets make this Ganesh Chavithi a festival to recon with. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all

-Divya