What is the Difference Between Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Jayanti?

After two years of restricted celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations are in full swing for the ten-day long auspicious Ganesha festival. Pathaks are ready, decorations have started, sweets are being prepared, etc for the arrival of Lord Ganesha. It is one of the significant Hindu festivals celebrated in India. However, people get confused with what is the difference between Ganesh Chaturthi and Ganesh Jayanti. In both cases, people believe that Lord Ganesha was born on these occasions. But is that the case? Let us dig into it-

 

 

Ganesh Chaturthi is observed in the month of August/September (Bhadrapada Hindu Month) while Ganesh Jayanti is celebrated in Maagh month which corresponds to the January/February month of the Gregorian calendar. It is held on Shukla paksha Chaturthi day (the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the waxing moon).

 

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, or Vinayaka Chaviti is also celebrated to mark the annual arrival of Lord Ganesha to earth from his celestial abode. According to Puranas, it is also said that after Lord Karthikeya left Mount Kailash where Goddess Parvati and God Shiva used to reside, Ganesha in order to meet his brother, Karthikeya used to leave Mount Kailash and return after 11 days (visarjan).

 

According to tradition, Magh Ganesh Jayanti is the actual birthday of Ganesha. Although there are various stories attached to his birth, the most relevant is that Goddess Parvati was the creator of Ganpati. She, in the absence of Lord Shiva, used her sandalwood paste to create Ganesha and put him to guard while she had gone for bathing. While she was gone, Lord Shiva got into a fight with Ganesha as he did not allow him to enter, as per his mother’s orders.

Enraged, Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha's head. When Parvati saw this sight, she took the form of Goddess Kali and threatened to destroy the world. This worried everyone and they requested Lord Shiva to find a solution and calm the rage of Goddess Kali. As a result, Lord Shiva replaced Lord Ganesha’s head with the head of the first animal head he could get, an elephant. Lord Shiva immediately placed the head on Ganesha's body and brought it to life again. The rage of Maa Kali was calmed and Goddess Parvati was overwhelmed, once again. He also gave his words to Parvati, promising her that their son will be worshipped before all other lords.

 

Notably, there are several stories attached to it.