Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Lord Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay idols (murti) privately in homes and publicly on elaborate Pandals (temporary stages).
Ganesha is known as the God of new beginnings and the remover of obstacles as well as the god of wisdom and intelligence. His birth is observed throughout India, especially in the states of Maharshtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh Goa etc. In Mumbai alone, around 150,000 statues are immersed annually. The immersion of the clay idol signifies, Ganesha's return to his celestial abode.
Ganesh Chaturthi is also observed by the Hindu diaspora in the United States and Europe, Canada, Nepal, Australia, Newzealand, Singapore, Malaysia. Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana Surinam and other parts of the Caribbean, Fiji, Mauritius and South Africa.
