December 21- December 25
On December 21, Pancha Ganapathi appears in yellow. The family creates a vibration of love and harmony with each other. They all decorate the shrine where Ganapathi will sit, with traditional symbols, rangoli, oil lamps or candles and flowers. Then the family sits together and makes amends with each other for things that happened during the year like insults given, mental pain suffered, and injuries caused. When forgiveness is given and accepted by everyone, they then speak of each others good qualities and resolve to make the future more pleasant and to be kind. Gifts are exchanged and they are placed before Pancha Ganapathi unopened. In Hinduism, family harmony is very important, so this sadhana is taken very seriously.
On December 22, the children dress him with royal blue and the family works toward creating a vibration of love and harmony amoung their neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers. Heartfelt gifts or cards are offered. The Sadhana of the day is to offer apologies for any misunderstandings that exist. The family also calls or writes family or friends in far away places to ask for forgiveness, offer apologies and release tensions. Gifts are exchanged and placed unopened before Pancha Ganapathi.
On December 23, the family creates a vibration of love and harmony amoung business associates, and casual workers (which I interpret as the mailman, garbage man, milk man, teachers or anyone who has helped your family through out the year on a regular basis). This is the day that the family presents gifts to merchants, customers, employees, employers, and also settles all debt on this day. Again, gifts exchanged and placed unopened before Pancha Ganapathi.
On December 24, the family invites friends and neighbors over to create a vibration of joy and harmony that comes from music, art, drama and dance. A satsang is held where everyone who wants can share their artistic gifts. When the program is over, the group sits before Pancha Ganapathi and discusses bringing more Hindu art into their homes and community in the next year. In our house, classical Indian dance will be discussed, and hopefully Ravi will be ready to start lessons in January or the next year. I will also make an effort to begin learning an Indian classical instrument in the coming year. More gifts are exchanged, and placed before Pancha Ganapathi.
On December 25, the final day of Pancha Ganapathi, the family will share in the joy of Ganesha's grace, due to spending the previous four days celebrating and becoming closer. The family will be more open and aware of Ganesha, and their love for him will be greater. The entire family will experience love and tranquility that was given by Ganesha. His blessings fill the home and hearts of everyone, and inspiration will spill into the coming new year. The exchange of affection between all the family members and Ganesha, is invoked and perpetuated throughout the day by doing 5 special pujas. These five pujas solicit help from Ganesha's devas, in the home and to help establish patterns for improvement in family life.
At 6pm, the final puja is done, and finally all five sadhanas have been completed. Peace, love and harmony amoung everyone has been restored. After the puja and before the special meal, Lord Pancha Ganapathi appears to give his final darshan and prasadam to everyone. Gifts are distributed and joyously opened, and then everyone eats. As it says in the book Loving Ganesa, "Happy children, Happy parents, Happy God".
We celebrate this holiday on a much smaller scale, but with similar seriousness and intensity.
Jai Ganapathi!