Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh, son of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati. This festival is celebrated for 10 days in Maharashtra state and throughout India. This festival comes on the 4th day of Bhadarva Shukla-paksh of Hindu calender.

Devotees of Ganesh bring the idol of Ganesh to their houses on this day with chants of 'GANPATI BAPPA MORYA'. and worship the Idol of Lord Ganesh. People do puja, of the idol twice a day - morning and evening till the idol is in their home. Maharashtrians make sweets called 'Modak' and offer them to Ganesh.

The Ganesh idols are kept for either one and a half, five, seven or ten days and then the 'Ganesh Visarjan' is performed, whereby the idols are immersed in sea waters.

Freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak started the custom of 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav' (public festival) in Maharashtra, during the Indian Independence fight against the British. The aim behind this was to bring the people close to each other. From then on, this festival is celebrated in almost every lane, housing society and area in Maharashtra and thus making Ganesh Chaturthi a public festival. Huge 'pandaals' or stages are set up and decorated beautifully and people worship the idol of Lord Ganesh together.