Ganesh Chaturthi falls on 4th day of bright half of Bhadrapad month. This day is celebrated by all Hindus all over the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesh. In Maharastra, Goa, Gujarat, Orrissa, Karnatak, Tamilnadu etc Ganesh Mahotsav is celebrated by all communities starting from Chaturthi and ending on Anant Chaturdashi (14th day of Bhadrapad month). During this period decorated mandaps are constructed and Ganesh idols are installed in the canopies. Daily religious discourses are held, prayers are offered and vedic hymns from Rigved, Ganesh Atharvashish and Ganesh prayers (aarti and pooja) from Narad Puran are chanted.
On the 11th day , the day of Ananth Chaturdashi this idol is immersed in the ocean or the river which symbolizes Lord's journey to Kailash while taking away with Him the misfortunes of his devotees.
As we know Ganesh is the ever blissful elephant headed God who is lovingly worshipped by millions of Hindus all over the world. The son of Shiva and Parvati the Ganesh is a God of Good luck and auspiciousness, the dispeller of obstacles. He is worshipped as a God of wisdom, wealth, health, celibacy, fertility and happiness. In Panchayatan pooja, He is glorified as one of the five prime deities whose worship confers immortality and liberation.