Odisha Celebrates Vinayak Chaturthi with Pomp and Gaiety

Bhubaneswar: Ganesh Puja is being celebrated with traditional gaiety and religious fervour across the state today. Lord Ganesh, the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune is being worshipped by the students.

The festival is typically held on the 4^th day of the waxing moon fortnight (Sukla pakshya) in the month of Bhadraba.

Students dressed in colourful dresses were seen offering flowers and taking the items they use in school like (notebooks, pencils, etc.) for a ritual before the deity. Preschoolers are often taught to write on this day. Many preschoolers, sitting with the priest in front of the idol, were seen writing some alphabets as a ritual to begin their formal education.

Pandals have been put up at many places, including schools and art and music institutions, where the students and youths have joined in the celebration to worship the Lord.

Cultural programmes and other fun filled activites have also been organised at different pandals and in schools to mark the occasion.

As many as 100 big and small Ganesh pandals have come up across the capital city Bhubaneswsar this year.

Meanwhile, the residents of Western Odisha have geared up for the Nuakhai celebration on Thursday.

Source: 360 NS