Published Date: August 21, 2024
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is a revered deity worshipped as the God of intelligence. Also, the Hindu people in India believe that he is the remover of obstacles from their lives. Thus, his birthday is celebrated as a grand festival in the country. Though he is called by different names in different states (for example, Vinayaka in Maharashtra and Pillaiyar in Tamil Nadu), this festival is vastly celebrated as a 10-day-long Utsav.
Ganesh Chaturthi Information
It begins with the Padya pooja, wherein people install the idols of Lord Ganesha as ‘Murtis’ at homes or public places. Mostly, these idols are made of clay or bio-compostable materials. Then comes the ‘Pratisthashan’ which includes prayers, offerings, and prasadas. Finally, it ends with ‘Visarjan’, wherein the idols are immersed in water.
A few places in India mark this as a glorious Utsav. In fact, some people travel to these places to cherish the festival and seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha. If you’re someone who is looking for such places, here is a curated list of the best places that celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi most grandly.
Top 7 Places in India to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi
Undeniably, North Indian places top the list. However, we’ve tried including a couple of South Indian cities that are quite equivalent to North Indian festivity.
- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Delhi, New Delhi
- Marcel, Goa
- Hyderabad, Telangana
- Bangalore, Karnataka
- Mangaluru, Karnataka
- Pune, Maharashtra
Mumbai, Maharashtra
People across the city form many ‘pandals’ and delight in the reverence of Ganesh Chaturthi in the form of decorations, dance, music, dramas, etc. Notable places where this is magnificent include Siddhi Vinayak Temple, G.S.B. Seva Mandal, and Lalbaughcha Raja.
Delhi, New Delhi
The next best place to commemorate this festival after Mumbai is New Delhi. Would any disciple of Lord Ganesha miss these moments in the national capital? Definitely, no. Try visiting the DDA mini stadium, Madhuban Chowk, Sri Vinayak Mandir Marg, or Netaji Subhash Place grounds to experience the unforgettable Chaturthi of Lord Ganesha.
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Marcel, Goa
Marcel is a small town in Goa renowned for making the most unique, creative, and eco-friendly Ganesha Murtis. Numerous local artisans and artists work together to build and showcase the idols with recyclable material. If you’ve bought any creative Ganesha Murti, you must have known about the Sai Kala Mandal at Tariwada Marcel.
Hyderabad, Telangana
This city in Telangana is known for establishing at least seventy-five thousand mandapas or pandals to celebrate Chaturthi. The best places to witness this grand occasion are Old City, Chaitanyapuri, New Nagole, Durgam Cheruvu, Balapur, and Khairatabad. Most importantly, the last part of the ceremony, i.e., idol immersion, occurs in Hussain Sagar Lake.
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Bangalore, Karnataka
A few sanghas and art schools together host the Chaturthi carnival entitled “The Bengaluru Ganesh Utsava” in the city. Year over year, we can see an increase in the number of people participating in the Utsava. From famous singers to musicians, experienced artists to young kids, everyone makes this one of the happening festivals.
Mangaluru, Karnataka
The Mangaloreans call it the “Ganesh Gouri Festival.” The specialty here is that you can witness the festival on almost every street in the city. Playing traditional music and singing the Ganesha songs are the two preferred ways of acclaiming this festival.
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Pune, Maharashtra
How can Pune not be a part of Vinayaka Chaturthi? Though listed last on the list, this is one of the selective destinations where this is celebrated along with the local festival called the “Pune festival,” which reveres the traditions and culture of Pune. Notable pandals include Guruji Talim, Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati, Tulsi Baug Ganpati, Shri Kasba Ganpati Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Kasba Ganpati, Kesariwada Ganeshotsav Trust, and Tambdi Jogeshwari Ganapati Mandal.