Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: How Bal Gangadhar Tilak started Ganeshotsav during freedom struggle

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: It is said that it was during India's freedom struggle that Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak laid the foundation of large-scale Ganeshotsav as we know it today.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Ganeshotsav is celebrated every year from Chaturdashi of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month to Anant Chaudas. While Maharashtra is known to host some of the largest Ganesh pujas, the festival is celebrated with pomp and show across the country. During Ganeshotsav, devotees of Lord Ganesha bring him home, perform special poojas for ten days and after that Ganpati is immersed. There are also large-scale pujas where devotees gather in pandals and temples to celebrate the festival together. This time Ganesh Chaturthi kick starts on August 31. There is a story behind Ganeshotsav becoming a large-scale celebration. On this occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, let's tell you the story related to Ganeshotsav, which you may be unaware of.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: How Bal Gangadhar Tilak laid foundation of Ganeshotsav

It is said that it was during India's freedom struggle that Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak laid the foundation of large-scale Ganeshotsav. During the freedom struggle in the 1890s, Tilak often wondered how to unite the common people. And he realised that celebrating a puja together can be the way. In Maharashtra, the Peshwas had long started the tradition of worshipping Ganapati. Tilak thought, that instead of home, why not celebrate Ganeshotsav at a public place? That way people will come together and a sense of unity will be fostered. So in 1893, the foundation of this great festival was laid. Tilak is credited to be the man who put up large hoarding with images of Lord Ganesha in pavilions. He is also believed to start the tradition of immersion of huge Ganesha statues on the tenth day of the festival. The credit of celebrating Ganeshotsav in public is therefore given to Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Tilak faced protests for public celebration of Ganeshotsav

It is said that Bal Gangadhar Tilak had to face a lot of opposition to start Ganeshotsav as a 'sarbajanin' puja. But he found support in Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipinchandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh, Rajnarayan Bose and Ashwini Kumar Dutt and the Ganeshotsav started. This also boosted Tilak's popularity. Ganeshotsav became even more popular in the 20th century. 

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Ganeshotsav became a mass movement in freedom struggle

It is believed that as people started coming together, Ganeshotsav at that became a big mass movement of independence, especially in Maharashtra cities like Wardha, Nagpur and Amravati. The British were terrified of the public celebration of Ganeshotsav, and the Rowlatt Committee report also expressed serious concerns about the fact that during Ganeshotsav, groups of youth protested the British rule on the streets and sang songs against the British government. Ganeshotsav created quite a flutter and perturbed the Raj. 

Ganesh Chaturthi 2022: Ganeshotsav gained in popularity over time

With the passage of time, Ganeshotsav became hugely popular. Today, the festival is celebrated across the country, with a lot of grandeur. Apart from Maharashtra, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with great pomp in all the states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal among others. Lord Ganesha is worshipped in the form of Mangalmurti. By breaking the shackles of caste, all the people participate in the worship and celebration of the lord.