On the last day of the festival, Ananta Chaturdashi, huge processions carrying the idol walk through the streets to take it for immersion to a river or the sea. Flowers, rice, coconut, jaggery and coins are also offered. Ganesha, or Ganpati, is offered sweets, the main one being modak, considered to be his favourite sweet. Each and every street of Mumbai comes alive during these celebrations. Prayers are offered for all the 10 days music, dance, drama and all kinds of cultural events take place all over Mumbai. A ritual called the Pranpratishtha Puja is then performed – ‘pranpratishtha’ literally translates to ‘life established’, so this puja is meant to invite the divine presence of the deity into the statue. The puja begins with the installation of beautifully carved colourful statues of Ganesha in all shapes and sizes. Preparations begin almost a month in advance. Celebrations are taken to a whole new level here. The best place to experience the opulence of this festival is Mumbai, without a doubt. This festival, therefore, not only represents faith and culture but is also symbolic of India’s rich history. It was revived by the nationalist leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak to spread the message of freedom during the country’s struggle for independence in the late 19 th century. The great Maratha leader Chhatrapati Shivaji himself is said to have started this festival as a public event to promote culture and unity among his people who were divided by caste. The scale of celebrations is particularly huge in Maharashtra, where this is perhaps the biggest festival of the year. Spanning a 10-day period, this festival has been celebrated since medieval times with great fervour and splendor. Shiva replaced his severed head with that of an elephant and brought Ganesha back to life. She then demanded that Shiva, her husband, bring him back to life. When Shiva severed Ganesha’s head in a fit of rage, the goddess was heartbroken. According to mythology, Ganesha was created by Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Revered as the birthday of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and knowledge, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of India.