Damanak Chaturthi 2024 : Damanak Chaturthi Puja Procedure

The festival of Damanak Chaturthi is celebrated to please Lord Ganesha. This festival is celebrated on the Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. This year Damanak Chaturthi will be celebrated on 12 April
2024. Lord Shri Ganesh is also known by the name Damanak. For this reason, Chaturthi of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month is also called Ganesh Damanak Chaturthi.

Lord Shri Ganesha is the destroyer of all problems, miseries, differences etc. Hence fasting and worshiping Lord Ganesha on this day of Daman Chaturthi, end all sufferings. Enemies too are destroyed.

Damanak Chaturthi Story

There is also an ancient legendary story associated with Damanak Chaturthi. According to this legend, there was once a king who had two wives and both of them had one son each. One Queen’s son's name was Ganesh and the other Queen’s son's name was Damanak. Both the children were very well raised, but for a small difference. Whenever Ganesh visited his maternal grandfather, everyone loved him a lot and was well taken care of. But on the other hand, whenever Damanak went to his maternal grandfather, he could not find love there, his maternal uncles and daughters used to get him to do household chores and treated him badly.

When both the children returned home from their maternal home, Ganesha brought a lot of gifts, toys and sweets with him, but Damanak did not get anything from his maternal grandfather. He would come home empty handed. Over a period of time both grow up with their own share of happiness and sorrow. Eventually, they get married and both go to their in-law’s house. Once again Ganesh is highly respected and loved by his in-laws. He is fed several dishes and sweets.

However, when Damanak visits his in-laws, they do not take any special care of him. Infact, they do not even allow him to sleep with them. They make him sleep in the horse’s stable by giving some excuse.

Ganesha brings a lot of goods from her in-laws but Damanak comes back empty-handed, he does not get anything. An old lady had been watching both of them since childhood. She felt very sorry for Damanak. One day, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati come to earth to know the joys and sorrows of those who live on earth. At that time the old lady approaches them with folded hands. She shares the story of Ganesh and Damanak with the Lord and his wife. She questions the Lord as to why Damanak has never been able to get pleasure from his maternal grandmother and now in his youth, he has to bear the contempt from his in-laws too.

At that time Lord Shiva informs that in his previous life Ganesha used to return back anything that was given to him in some form or the other. If nothing else, he would gift various items to the children of his maternal uncles and aunts. Likewise, he has also returned the favours of his in-laws' house, which he had taken in his previous birth, he had also given back everything. That is why in this birth he still gets a lot of respect and honor from his maternal side and father-in-law's side.

On the other hand, Damanak never returned what he received from his maternal and in-laws' side in his former birth. He used to remain very busy with his work and did not take the time out to get anything for his maternal family or in-laws. As a result, in this birth he will not get anything from his maternal family and in-laws. All of his expectations will go unfulfilled.

The moral of the story is that we must always try to return anything received from others. We must ensure we do not snatch what belongs to another and ensure the deserving person gets what he is supposed to get. Even if you are in love with someone, you should try to return anything received from that person in some form or the other. This is true especially for maternal family and in-laws. Anything that is taken or eaten should be returned to the children of the family if not the adults. This will double the benefit, however, if one does not return then sooner or later the person has to pay up.

Ganesh Puja Procedure

Lord Ganesha is worshiped on the day of Damanak Chaturthi. One should wake up early in the morning on this day and recite the 11 names of Ganesha which are Ekadanta, Gajakarna, Lombodar, Kapil, Gajanan, Vikat, Vibhinashka, Vinayak, Bhalchandra, Smokketu, Ganapadha. One should take a bath only after reciting the 11 names.

Sit in front of Lord Ganesha and mediate. Worship him with flowers, Roli, Akshat, etc. Make sure to offer vermilion and Durba. Ganesh ji loves Laddus, so offer that too. Following Ganesha's Mantra Chants should be recited, 'Chatrayi Namah', 'Gajananaya Namah', 'Vignarajaya Namah', 'Prasannaatnam Namay'.

The idol of Ganesh ji should be given a bath. It should first be bathed with water from the Ganges and Panchamrit and then with pure water. After this the idol should be placed in the temple. Flowers should be offered before the Lord with devotion. Sandalwood, Roli, sindoor, Akshat Tilak should be applied. The idol should be adorned with flower garland, jewelry and fragrant items. Incense sticks, camphor, a lamp should be lit. Damanak Katha should be recited and after that Aarti should be performed. After the Aarti, food should be offered to the Lord. Finally, the devotee should pray to God for the welfare of the family and the world.