Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated on the fourth day after the new moon in the waxing portion of the lunar fortnight of Bhadrapadaaya (usually in late August or early September).
One way to celebrate the festival is to meditate upon the 108 names of Lord Ganesha. Each of the 108 names evokes a specific quality, power or blessing that Ganesha showers upon us. Each recitation of the 108 names can begin with the seed mantra which is formulated around the word gam – the bijakshara for Ganesha.
Aum gam ganpataye Namah
The second set of twelve (of the 108) names of Ganesha are given below:
Aum Vedavedyaaya Namah
Salutations to the One who is understood through the Vedas
Aum Mahaakaalya Namah
Salutations to the One who is time himself
Aum Vidyaanidhaye Namah
Salutations to the treasury of knowledge
Aum Anaamyaaya Namah
Salutations to the wholesome One
Aum Sarvagyaaya Namah
Salutations to the omniscient One
Aum Sarvagaaya Namah
Salutations to the omnipresent One
Aum Shaantaaya Namah
Salutations to the one who is free of excesses
Aum Chitteshwaraaya Namah
Salutations to the lord of ourl consciousness
Aum Vigatajvaraaya Namah
Salutations to the one without stress or grief
Aum Vishwamoortye Namah
Salutations to the universe incarnate
Aum Amevaatmane Namah
Salutations to the boundless soul
Aum Vishvaadhaaraaya Namah
Salutations to the sustainer of the universe
Happy Ganesha Chaturthi to all of you – may Lord Ganesha’s blessings always be with you! Please share Ganesha’s blessings with your friends and family!