Ranchi celebrates Ganesh Chaturthi and Hartalika Teej with festive fervour
Ranchi: City slipped into festive mode on Monday as Ganesh Chaturthi brought idols, puja pandals, and community celebrations to neighbourhoods, while Hartalika Teej saw married women observe fasts, dress in traditional attire and participate in rituals. This year, the two festivals are being celebrated on the same day, adding to the festive fervour.
At Chutia , the Ganesh Puja pandal has transformed into a 10-day fair, drawing families, children and devotees alike. Apart from offering prayers, visitors spent time at food stalls, amusement rides and community events.
“Every year, we wait for Ganesh Puja because it brings the neighbourhood together. People come for darshan, but they also spend time with their families here,” said Bablu, a visitor at the Chutia pandal.
At the Main Road Ganesh Puja pandal, devotees queued up for prayers as crowds moved between idols, flower vendors, and stalls selling puja items.
“The festival is not only about puja but also visiting people we may not meet regularly and introducing children to our culture,” said Akash, another visitor.
The festive spirit extended beyond the pandals. Markets across the city witnessed a surge in shoppers buying flowers, puja materials, clothes, jewellery, and other festive essentials. Temporary roadside stalls selling festival-related items added to the bustle and evening footfall.
“I liked the big Ganesh idol the most. The lights and the rides at the fair are also fun. I want to come back with my friends in the evening,” said Sarthak Priyesh, a child visiting the Ganesh Puja pandal in Dhurwa .
As the day progressed, celebrations took on a different rhythm with Hartalika Teej. Married women observed the traditional fast and performed rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati . Many adorned themselves in colourful traditional attire, applied mehendi, and gathered with friends and relatives to mark the occasion.
For some, the festival also became a social media moment, with groups of women capturing memories between rituals. “I completed my puja and then my friends insisted we make a reel. We are fasting, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy the day together,” said Deepshika, a participant in the Teej celebrations.
At Chutia , the Ganesh Puja pandal has transformed into a 10-day fair, drawing families, children and devotees alike. Apart from offering prayers, visitors spent time at food stalls, amusement rides and community events.
“Every year, we wait for Ganesh Puja because it brings the neighbourhood together. People come for darshan, but they also spend time with their families here,” said Bablu, a visitor at the Chutia pandal.
At the Main Road Ganesh Puja pandal, devotees queued up for prayers as crowds moved between idols, flower vendors, and stalls selling puja items.
“The festival is not only about puja but also visiting people we may not meet regularly and introducing children to our culture,” said Akash, another visitor.
The festive spirit extended beyond the pandals. Markets across the city witnessed a surge in shoppers buying flowers, puja materials, clothes, jewellery, and other festive essentials. Temporary roadside stalls selling festival-related items added to the bustle and evening footfall.
“I liked the big Ganesh idol the most. The lights and the rides at the fair are also fun. I want to come back with my friends in the evening,” said Sarthak Priyesh, a child visiting the Ganesh Puja pandal in Dhurwa .
As the day progressed, celebrations took on a different rhythm with Hartalika Teej. Married women observed the traditional fast and performed rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati . Many adorned themselves in colourful traditional attire, applied mehendi, and gathered with friends and relatives to mark the occasion.
For some, the festival also became a social media moment, with groups of women capturing memories between rituals. “I completed my puja and then my friends insisted we make a reel. We are fasting, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy the day together,” said Deepshika, a participant in the Teej celebrations.
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