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KEEPING STUDENTS WELL INFORMED AT HOME DURING SUMMER VACATION SUNDAY, AUG. 16, 2020 Durva grass Exploring the realms of history, science, nature and technology GaneshGanesh Chaturthi is a 10-dayChaturthi Hindu festival that celebrates and honors the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the ele- Marigolds are one of phant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Lord Ganesha’s favorite flowers. Ganesha represents wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Annual celebration Symbolic meaning Crescent: Life and philosophy Did you know? Because the Hindu religion There are many different depictions Ganesha is known by 108 dif- uses a lunar calendar, festivals of Lord Ganesha, but most include Big ears: Listen more ferent names, including Vighna do not fall on the same date special icons that are symbolic of Harta (remover of obstacles) Axe: To cut off all every year. Ganesh Chaturthi important Hindu lessons. and Buddhi Pradaayaka (giver bonds of attachment always takes place during a of wisdom and intellect). Large head: Think big waxing moon. This year, it Rope: To pull Some devotees chant the “Om begins on Saturday, August 22. Small eyes: Concentrate you closer to Ganeshaya Namah” mantra at least 108 times while perform- One tusk: Keep the good, the highest goal Where in the world ing the puja (morning worship throw away the bad Lord Ganesha is worshipped in ritual). It is believed that those Hindu communities around the Small mouth: who chant the mantra will world, but especially in India, Talk less achieve all desires. Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lord Ganesha is often de- Trunk: Efficiency Pakistan, Nepal and China. picted holding a conch shell. and adaptability Lotus: The conch shell is important in Traditions Purity and Hindu culture because it makes During the festival of Ganesh enlighten- a unique and holy sound. Chaturthi, many people place ment amid Lord Ganesha is sometimes Ganesha clay or papier-mâché ignorance portrayed with just one tusk, be- idols in their homes. Color- cause Ganesha once broke his ful public pandals (temporary tooth and hurled it at the Moon shrines or stages) are set for laughing at his belly. up, and offerings of food and prayers are presented. Sweets It is traditional to present 21 are distributed from the pandal blades of durva grass (Bermu- to the community. In addition da grass) to the Ganesha idol. to the reading of Hindu texts, Durva strands are tied together, group feasting and athletic and dipped in water for freshness, Unfolding and then offered to the deity. martial arts competitions are lotus also held. Durva grass cured Lord Ga- petals: nesha’s stomach pain after he The festival ends after 10 days, Ladoos: Expansion swallowed a demon. when a public procession (with Reward for of the soul music and singing) carries the hard work Food for thought clay idol to a nearby body of Many devotees of Lord Gane- water, where it is immersed. It Large stomach: To Prasada: sha will fast for the first day of is estimated that in the city of peacefully digest the Giving and the festival (Lord Ganesha's Mumbai alone, about 150,000 good and bad in life sharing birthday), while others choose statues are immersed every Mouse: Reaching to fast for all 10 days. year. into every small Modak Those who are not As the clay idol dissolves, it is space of the mind Lord Ganesha idols sculpted from clay or fasting might believed Ganesha returns to paper do not harm the environment when Lord Ganesha guides enjoy sweets Mount Kailash and his parents, immersed in water. But idols sculpted a person’s karma by such as mo- Parvati and Shiva. from plaster of Paris often contain creating and removing dak, ladoo, mercury and cadmium and cause Festival history obstacles. gajak and pollution. rewari. The exact history of Ganesh Chaturthi is not known, but Modak is one it was celebrated as a public of Lord Ganesha's favorite event by King Shivaji of the sweets. These small sweet and Maratha Empire in the1600s. savory balls of rice dough are boiled and stuffed with grated In 1893, an Indian rights activ- coconut along with jaggery and ist named Lokmanya Tilak dry fruits. The plate presented advocated for a public Ganesh to Lord Ganesha should have Chaturthi celebration as a way exactly 21 pieces. to circumvent the colonial Brit- Lokmanya Tilak Banana ish government’s ban on Hindu The elephant-headed god is (1856-1920) leaves gatherings. also fond of fresh fruit, espe- cially bananas. People also of- King Shivaji fer garlands made with banana (1630-1680) leaves along with the stem of the banana plant and banana SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.; https://www.indiatoday.in/; https://rgyan.com; https://www.timesnownews.com; https://daily.bhaskar.com flowers. Chat with the author and like us on Facebook — www.facebook.com/worldofwonder2014 LEARN ABOUT BARNYARD ANIMALS IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF WORLD OF WONDER LEARN ABOUT BIRD WATCHING IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF WORLD OF WONDER OUR WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION PAGE CAN BE A FUN LEARNING TOOL FOR YOUR KIDS. CHECK BACK EACH THURSDAY FOR A NEW, EXCITING TOPIC! Pinal County’s Daily Newspaper TO SUBSCRIBE: Newspapers in Education (520) 423-8685 CGVNI-NIE World Of Wonder 8-6-20 Ganesh DISP 8/6 (0) Zoe 6x21.5 FULL COLOR • Whole ad is art bam.
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