Ganesh Chaturthi: Dos and don’ts

Bringing Bappa home is a joyful occasion, but a few simple practices can make the celebration more peaceful and responsible.

From choosing the idol and preparing the puja space to planning Visarjan, these dos and don’ts can help families observe the festival with devotion and care.

Dos

• Prepare a clean space: Keep the area where the idol will be placed clean, peaceful and suitable for daily prayers.

• Choose an eco-friendly idol: Traditionally, clay or shadu maati idols are preferred. Idols made with natural, water-soluble colours are also a thoughtful choice.

• Offer traditional prasad: Durva grass, flowers, fruits and modaks are commonly offered during Ganesh puja.

• Keep the puja area clean: Maintain cleanliness around the idol throughout the festival.

• Perform aarti: Families may perform morning and evening aarti according to their customs and convenience.

• Plan an eco-friendly Visarjan: Consider home immersion, an artificial pond or a designated immersion tank instead of natural water bodies.

• Dispose of puja materials responsibly: Separate flowers and other offerings and dispose of them properly after the rituals.

• Follow family traditions: Customs can differ, so families may follow their traditional practices or seek guidance from their priest.

Don’ts

• Avoid plastic and thermocol decorations: Choose reusable, biodegradable or natural decoration materials where possible.

• Do not leave puja waste around: Flowers, food and other ritual materials should be handled and disposed of responsibly.

• Avoid offering Tulsi leaves: Traditionally, Tulsi is not offered to Lord Ganesha, based on a longstanding religious belief.

• Do not immerse idols in polluted water bodies: Prefer designated immersion facilities or suitable home arrangements.

• Avoid arguments near the idol: The festival is traditionally observed in a peaceful and respectful atmosphere.

• Do not treat rituals as one-size-fits-all: Practices and timings may vary across families and regions, so local and family traditions should be respected.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Hans India