From Ritual to Revolution: How Ganesh Chaturthi Became a Catalyst in India’s Freedom Struggle?

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most vibrant and colourful festivals of India. Celebrated extravagantly throughout many parts of India, it is a means to worship and pay homage to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles and the embodiment of light and wisdom, on his birthday. The ten-day festival marks the birth and rebirth of Lord Ganesha, ending with Ganesh Visarjan on the tenth day, marking his return to the divine abode.

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However, the widespread, diverse and public celebration had not always been the symbol for Ganesh Chaturthi; rather, in the earlier days, it was a very private ritual exclusive to upper-class households. In 1893, one of the most famous freedom fighters of India, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, revolutionised this festival. Symbolically, he used Lord Ganesha, remover of all hurdles, to remove the hurdle known as the British Raj.

BAL GANGADHAR TILAK'S REVOLUTIONARY VISION

Bal Gagandhar Tilka, the social reformer he was, was looking for opportunities and ways through which he could unite the Indian people, remove the prejudice of castes and fight against the evils of the British Empire. At the same time, the British colonial authorities had passed the “Anti Public Assembly Legislation" of 1892, which halted Tilak’s struggle to instil national sentiments and raise political unrest.

Although any gathering of more than 20 citizens was prohibited, the authorities, afraid of unrest, exempted religious gatherings. Tilak saw an opportunity here.

He realised that Hindus did not have any major religious gatherings and saw great potential in Ganesh Chaturthi. In 1893, at his residence, he organised the first ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshmahotsav’. In this festival, he saw the opportunity to unify the people of India, mobilise support, give nationalistic speeches and advocate against the British colonial authorities. He turned the festival into a symbol of unity where people, irrespective of their castes, could gather, worship and show the collective spirit of resistance and pride.

Through the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi, not only did he transcend the barrier of caste, but he also imbued the celebration with a political motive and laid the foundation stone of a weapon which could be used anytime to unite and mobilise people.

CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE

Lord Ganesha came to embody hope, light, and renewed faith for Indians under foreign rule. By linking religion with nationalism, Tilak inspired unity while also challenging long‑standing social divisions.

India’s lack of a united approach was, for once, starting to disappear, and caste differences were becoming barely visible. Many also reported that even Muslims were joining in on the processions simply to counter the ideas of the colonial authorities. The inclusivity attributed to this festival was one seen for the first time. The festival itself did not remain exclusive to Maharashtra and spread throughout India, spreading the ideas of freedom and nationalism throughout the sub-continent. 

CATALYST IN THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE

The Ganesh Chaturthi processions were a weapon pointed directly at the head of the British Raj. The procession mobilised millions, brought along a diverse crowd, and simply gave the political leaders and fighters a platform to present their views and give speeches. It became a passage of political unrest and created a sense of unity, never before seen. There are many other ways, though, through which the ten-day procession acted as a catalyst.

The gathering was an open forum for fighters to gather, plan and execute moves, not allowed naturally due to crowd-restrictive legislation. Moreover, the festival gave youth exposure and was an inflection point from where the involvement of youth in the freedom struggle grew manifold times.

Moreover, the ritual was quick to spread to other states, where the gatherings were used to spread messages and ideas. The ten days of the festival became extremely important as the colonial restrictions were circumvented and messages and ideas spread throughout.

Simultaneously, the mass participation also became a hub of economic growth and empowerment for artisans and others who designed the idols, helped in logistics, did the decorations and prepared the food. The procession created an economy around itself, giving supporting livelihoods in a self-sufficient manner. In toto, the festival helped Indians to achieve freedom by providing a platform and foundation from which the movements could start in the initial days.

LEGACY FOR INDIA

Even after independence, Ganesh Chaturthi remains a significant festival celebrated throughout India. It remains a model of unity in diversity, which can be seen in our country even during the toughest of times.

The festival catalysed the struggle for Indian freedom and laid the foundation through which mass mobilisation could happen. Even today, the festival is a precedent, cultural solidarity and unity played in the freedom struggle and is a reminder of the efforts laid down by our predecessors in attaining freedom.

Moreover, with globalisation, the celebration of this festival has extended beyond borders carried by our diaspora. Today, Ganesh Chaturthi has become an integral part of the collective consciousness and cultural identity of citizens across the globe. It is indeed poetic that a festival originally intended to unite Indians within India has now transcended borders and continents, connecting people worldwide.

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BY AMEYA GUPTA

COVERING PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com