The popular Hindu festival marking the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the god of intellect, wisdom and good fortune, is to be celebrated on September 1 this year.

GANESH CHATURTHI is a spectacular Hindu festival celebrated in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (on day four after new moon). This year, the festival will be celebrated on September 1. At many places the celebrations continue for 11 days, ending with Ananta Chaturdasi.

The festival marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the god of intellect, wisdom and good fortune.

In many parts of India, the festival starts with the installation of Ganesha statues in colourfully decorated homes as well as in out-door mandapas with chanting of Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda.

On the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesh Visarjan is performed during which the installed statues are taken through the streets in a procession to be immersed in a river, lake or sea.

Ganesh Visarjan symbolizes Lord’s send-off, and as he goes he takes with him the misfortunes of devotees and bestows them with good fortune.

Ganesh Chaturthi has become popular in Mauritius too and the government there has declared it a public holiday.

Here's a sentence acrostic on GANESHA.

G: Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar are the other popular names of Lord Ganesha.
A: Attributes of Buddhi (wisdom) and Siddhi (fortunes).
N: Nobel child of God Shiva and Maa Parvati.
E: Emerged as the master of the group of Ganas.
S: Semi-divine beings to be.
H: Honoured and worshiped at beginning of every new.
A: Activity or religious ritual as the removal of obstacles and make an auspicious start.