Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: Significance of Rice During Ganesh Sthapana

Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. It begins on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September) which is the sixth month of the Hindu calendar. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on August 22, which is a Saturday.

The festival starts with idols of Lord Ganesha being placed on raised platforms in homes or ornate pandals (outdoor tents). The worship begins with the ‘pranapratishtha’, a ritual to invoke life in the idols. It is followed by ‘shhodashopachara’ or the sixteen ways of paying tribute to the almighty. Lord Ganesha is offered coconut, jaggery, and twenty-one modaks (sweet dumplings), considered to be his favourite food. On the completion of this festival, the Ganesha idols are carried to local rivers in huge processions accompanied by drumbeats, devotional singing, and dancing. There they are immersed, a ritual symbolizing Ganesha’s homeward journey to Mount Kailas - the abode of his parents, Shiva and Parvati.

Rice plays a major and significant role in Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. While bringing Lord Ganesha to their homes, followers shower the idol with Akshat or unbroken rice slathered with kumkum or turmeric to signify the welcoming of prosperity and happiness. The place where Lord Ganesha sits is known as the ‘Isthaan’. Devotees spread some rice grains around that place, along with supari and sprinkle some haldi on it. It is believed that the rice grains attract the positivity and energy from the five principal deities namely Lord Shiva, Shakti, Ram, Krishna and Ganesha. It is also believed that using unbroken rice grains helps in increasing the ability to attract good vibes from Gods and Goddesses.

Another form of rice i.e. puffed rice is also offered to Lord Ganesha during Ganesh Chaturthi. The practice has an interesting story behind it: When the Hindu Lord of Wealth Kuber invited Ganesha for a meal, he failed to impress him. Despite the luxurious meals offered, Ganesha was not satisfied. So as a solution, Lord Shiva suggested serving a handful of roasted rice with complete devotion. It was only after eating this offering that Ganesha’s hunger was suppressed.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2020 is one step forward into a world plagued by a global pandemic. Millions of people have lost their lives succumbing to COVID-19. Let us join hands and pray to Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity, to grant the families of the bereaved with happiness, good health, and strength to cope with their loss. Furthermore, may Lord Ganesha bless us with the wisdom to understand the power of nature, and the knowledge to preserve our environment so that the world does not have to face another pandemic.