There is a certain feeling when Ganpati comes home.The house may be full of people, there may be flowers everywhere, someone is busy making modaks while another person is still trying to fix the decorations. And then comes the moment everyone has been waiting for – Ganpati Sthapana.Once Lord Ganesha is placed in the home, the celebrations begin. But for families that follow the traditional rituals, there are also a few things to keep in mind during the days Ganpati stays at home.These customs aren’t exactly the same in every household. Some families follow elaborate puja rituals, while others keep things simple. The number of days the idol stays at home can also vary.Still, there are some common practices devotees usually follow after Ganpati Sthapana.
Keep the space around Ganpati clean
This is perhaps one of the simplest things to follow.Once the idol has been installed, the area around it should be kept clean. Flowers that have wilted, leftover food, used puja items and other waste shouldn’t be allowed to pile up around the idol.And because the puja area tends to become a busy spot during Ganesh Chaturthi, it can get messy rather quickly. A little regular cleaning can make a big difference.
Make time for daily puja
Ganpati doesn’t just arrive for the Sthapana and then become part of the home decor.Traditionally, devotees offer prayers every day while the idol is kept at home. Depending on the family’s customs, this could include aarti, flowers, durva, sweets, fruits and other offerings.It doesn’t have to be a lengthy ritual every single time. For some families, morning or evening aarti is enough. Others may have a more detailed puja routine.The important thing is to follow the tradition your family normally observes.
Don’t forget the modaks
Can Ganesh Chaturthi really feel complete without modaks?The sweet is closely associated with Lord Ganesha and is commonly offered as prasad during the festival. Homemade modaks are a favourite in many homes, although ladoos, fruits and other vegetarian foods may also be offered.Once the offering has been made, the prasad can be shared with family members and guests.There is no need to turn every day’s offering into a huge feast. A simple, fresh offering works perfectly well for families that prefer keeping the celebrations low-key.
Be careful with food offerings
Fresh food is generally preferred for puja.In Delhi’s September heat, for example, milk-based sweets or other perishable foods shouldn’t be left sitting outside for hours. Once the puja is over, food that needs refrigeration should be stored properly.And if something has spoiled, don’t eat it simply because it was offered during the puja. Prasad should still be safe to consume.
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Try to keep the atmosphere peaceful
Ganesh Chaturthi can get loud and lively, especially when relatives and friends start dropping in for darshan.That’s part of the fun.But traditionally, the period is also seen as a time for prayer and devotion. So unnecessary arguments, fights or deliberately disruptive behaviour around the puja area are best avoided.Nobody expects a household to suddenly become completely silent for 10 days. Families will talk, children will play and guests will come over. The idea is simply to maintain a respectful atmosphere around Ganpati.
Don’t move the idol unnecessarily
Once the Sthapana has been performed, devotees generally avoid moving the idol without a reason.The exact customs can differ, particularly depending on how and where the idol has been installed. So if there is a genuine need to shift it, families may prefer to follow the guidance of their priest or the tradition they have been following for years.This is one area where there isn’t necessarily one rule that applies to every home.
Follow your family’s tradition for Visarjan
One of the biggest questions around Ganpati is often: When should the visarjan happen?There isn’t one answer for every household.Some families bring Ganpati home for one and a half days. Others keep the idol for three, five, seven or 10 days. Some families follow different timings altogether.The visarjan day is usually decided according to the family’s tradition and, in some cases, the preferred muhurat.So if your neighbour is doing visarjan on a different day, there’s no reason to assume your family is doing something wrong.
Don’t turn the festival into a wasteful celebration
With flowers, decorations, food and guests, it is easy for the amount of waste at home to go up during Ganesh Chaturthi.There are simple ways around that.Reusable decorations can be used instead of buying new ones every year. Food can be prepared according to the number of people actually expected at home. And flowers and other puja waste can be disposed of responsibly.Many families also choose eco-friendly Ganpati idols, particularly because of concerns around the impact of immersion on water bodies.
What about non-vegetarian food?
This is another area where customs can differ.Many families follow a vegetarian diet during the period Ganpati is at home, while others may have their own established practices. Some households avoid certain foods only on the main puja days.There is no need to assume that every family follows exactly the same food rules. If your household has a particular tradition, that’s the one to follow.
Don’t get too stressed about getting every ritual perfect
This may be the most useful thing to remember.Ganesh Chaturthi comes with plenty of rituals, and if you’re celebrating at home for the first time, it can sometimes feel like there is a long list of things you’re supposed to remember.But traditions aren’t identical across India. A Maharashtrian household may have different customs from a family in Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka or Bengal. Even two families from the same city may celebrate differently.If you’re unsure about a particular ritual, check with your family priest or an elder who knows your family’s tradition rather than relying on random rules circulating online.At its heart, Ganesh Chaturthi is about welcoming Lord Ganesha into the home with devotion and joy.So keep the puja space clean, offer fresh food and prayers, treat the idol with respect and follow the customs your family believes in.And yes, make those modaks. Ganpati would probably expect nothing less.
