November 3, 2013

Ganesha season coming soon

End of the year is Ganesha celebration time. For many Hindus, the entire lunar month of Margali (Dec. 16 to Jan. 14, this year) is observed as Ganesha festival time. A vow is often taken, to attend Ganesha puja each day for the month, for example. Why? Because, at this time, he is very close and easily contacted. The key time is Pancha Ganapati, a five-day festival which starts at Winter solstice (or Summer if you are in the Southern hemisphere), December 21 thru 25.

During the nearly universal Holiday Season, Hindu children often wonder why everything is quiet at home while everyone else is celebrating with abandon. Actually, December solstice has always traditionally been a high spiritual time for Hindus and a time to gather together, a family time, to appreciate one another and share gifts.

Start planning to celebrate Pancha Ganapati this year. Read Hinduism Today's exposition of this holiday. Or Download PDFs of it.

You can follow the meticulous instructions in the above article, or you can make it casual, celebrating as grandly or simply as you like—only being sure to place Ganesha at the center of it all.

Get in the mood for this holiday and this time of year with the best book on Ganesha in print, Loving Ganesha, by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Ganesha murtis, crystal Ganeshas and more at minimela.com.

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