Ganesh Chaturthi 2025

August 26, 2025

Festival greetings to all.

On the morrow, Hindus will once again throw open their doors to welcome Ganesha, beloved for his oceanic wisdom, quicksilver wit, and boundless compassion.

Renowned for his intelligence, profound knowledge, and consummate mastery of music, Ganesha is blessed with a formidable sweet tooth. His ample belly is no burden but rather a cheerful declaration of his devotion to fine vegetarian fare and an endless supply of traditional sweets.

In Hindu homes he is not a guest but family. Children revel in his arrival, knowing it heralds both blessings and a sanctioned sugar binge. At the outset of every new venture his name is invoked, his grace sought at life’s milestones, and students across the land continue the time-honoured ritual of appealing to him for that last-minute exam reprieve.

The video below offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of an artisan lovingly bringing Ganesha to life with the final, delicate strokes of paint.

Verse in Tamil and translation by Dr. V.N. Muthukumar Listen to M.S. Subbulakshmi’s classic rendition of this verse.

மற்பொரு திறள்புய மதயானை … மட்டவிழ் மலர்கொடு பணிவேனே …. முப்புரம் எரிசெய்த அச்சிவனுறை ரதம் அச்சது பொடிசெய்த —- அதிதீரா அத்துய ரறுகொடு சுப்பிரமணிபடும் அப்புன மதனிடை —- இபமாகி அக்குற மகளுடன் அச்சிறு முருகனை அக்கண மணமருள் —- பெருமாளே

The mighty warrior – with a wrestler’s thick shoulders – shatters the axle of the chariot in which sits Siva who burned the three cities.¹ Now seeing Subrahmanya pacing up and down the millet field, torn by love for the daughter of the hill-tribe, He turns Himself into a rogue elephant; she runs in fright, straight into the arms of Murukan.² And there, their union was blessed by Him, Whom I worship with flowers that ooze nectar.

(Excerpts from Arunagirinatha’s Tiruppugazh, kaittala niraikaṇi)

[1] According to the Siva Purana, the devas and the creator Brahma requested Siva to destroy the three cities built by the asura Taraka’s sons. Accordingly, Siva goes to battle with them. In one version of this story, the devas and Brahma forget to propitiate Ganesha before they head out for battle. So, Ganesha destroys the axle of Siva’s chariot, thus exhibiting His might and valor. The devas then realize their mistake and worship Lord Ganesha as the One who removes all obstacles.

[2] The hill-girl mentioned here is Valli, the daughter of a tribal chieftain. She is one of Lord Subrahmanya’s two consorts as mentioned in the Skanda Purana. In this story, Murukan (as Lord Subrahmanya is known in Tamil country) woos Valli in the guise of an old man. But she, having vowed to marry only Murukan, refuses. One day, when she is in the millet fields with her friends, Lord Ganesha assumes the form of a wild elephant and frightens her. She then sees the old man who says he’ll rescue her from the elephant if she consents to marry him.