Ganesh Chaturthi (also called Ganeshotsav) is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. While held all over India, it is at its most elaborate in Maharashtra, and other areas which were former states of the Maratha Empire. The festival is observed in the hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). This typically comes sometime between 20th of Aug and 15th of September. The festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi.
The Visarjan (immersion) Processions and Ceremony
The festival ends with the ceremony of immersion of the idols in the sea or rivers and wells. This ceremony which is called Ganesha-Visarjan which means immersion of Ganesha is as popular as the festival proper. During the immersion ceremony huge crowds move in a procession carrying idols of Ganesha towards the places of immersion. These processions which take place with great fanfare, begins in the afternoon and continue till the late hours of the night.

Offerings to Lord Ganesha
On this day of Vinayaka Chathurthi, various kinds of offerings are made. All preparations are cooked in steam and offered to him. People offer him Kudumulu and Vundrallu, made by using rice flour and til seeds, which have no oil content in them. Those who partake food cooked in steam remain very healthy. This preparation of rice flour and til seeds frees us from all defects of the eye like spots and cataract. A combination of jaggery and til seeds prevents all defects and diseases caused due to bile, wind and phlegm. The rice flour preparation made using steam helps in digestion too.

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