In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores the Ganesha festival and the devotion, history, and inner meaning behind the worship of Ganapati.

The Ganesha festival begins today, and where I am, the preparations have already begun in India, especially in Maharashtra, where Ganesha is the most beloved deity. Maharashtra is probably the chief center of the Ganapatya Sampradaya, the tradition that worships Ganapati as the Supreme Reality of the universe. This tradition was strongly established through the devotion of Morya Gosavi, whose connection with Chinchwad, near Pune, remains well known. Ganapati has been worshipped in Maharashtra for many centuries.

In 1893, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, after whom my Ayurvedic college in Pune is named, transformed the festival from a private celebration into a public festival. Large images of Ganesha began to be installed in the streets and neighborhoods of cities, especially Pune and Mumbai. The public immersion of these images at the end of the festival was also promoted. Although images had been immersed privately before, the public celebration helped revive popular culture at a time when the British were discouraging such gatherings. It also created an opportunity for Brahmins and non-Brahmins to come together and worship collectively, and for people to gather and discuss many subjects, including political matters, without attracting unnecessary attention from the authorities.

Over the years, the Ganapati festival has become a very large celebration. Since 1974, there have only been a few years when I was not in Maharashtra during the festival. When I was a student, I participated in it like everyone else. There were always fascinating Ganesha images, unusual and creative forms of Ganesha, and people would walk through the streets visiting the different installations, meeting friends, seeing the images, offering worship, and sharing conversations.

This was exactly the kind of community gathering that Tilak had envisioned. During the day, people would discuss which Ganesha they had seen, which one was most interesting, and which ones others should visit. At night, people would go out and experience the atmosphere of the festival together.

Ganesha is also a very welcoming deity. He encourages everyone to come forward. Anyone who brings sweets to share with him is welcome. He is intelligent and wise, but he is also represented as a six-year-old boy who enjoys affection, sweetness, and loving attention.

This year, however, the festival is different because of the pandemic. There are some Ganesha installations, including some in South Mumbai, but it is not the same as previous years because people must be much more careful about gathering and interacting.

Perhaps this itself is a message from Ganapati, through his mother Parvati and father Shiva. We have spent a great deal of time expressing devotion externally, but now there is an opportunity to internalize that devotion. No matter how much we expand externally, eventually we must bring everything back within because when we leave this world, that inner reality is what we carry with us.

During these ten days, I encourage everyone to spend time focusing on Ganapati. Remember that he is the Lord of Obstacles. He can create obstacles, and he can remove them. We already have significant obstacles in the world, so it is worthwhile to encourage Ganapati to help remove them.

One of the best ways to connect with Ganapati is through singing. If you can sing yourself, that is wonderful. If not, there are many recordings available where you can listen to others singing to him. I was recently listening to Lata Mangeshkar, one of the most famous vocalists in India, whom I have met several times many years ago, singing the famous Marathi songs dedicated to Ganapati.

It is important to remember that Ganapati is extremely intelligent and wise, but he is also a child. He does not care only about intellectual understanding. He appreciates sweets, affection, love, and devotion. Offering sincere Bhakti and affection toward him is one of the best ways to connect with him.