Vinayaki Chaturthi is a Hindu festival that is dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu deity who is revered as the remover of obstacles and the patron of arts and sciences. This year, it will be observed on Thursday, February 23, 2023. It is celebrated on the fourth day (Chaturthi) of the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada, usually in August or September. The festival involves offering prayers, performing puja rituals, and seeking blessings from Lord Ganesha. People also engage in various cultural activities such as music, dance, and feasting. In some regions, large and colorful processions are held with devotees carrying clay statues of Lord Ganesha, which are later immersed in water bodies as a symbol of letting go of one’s ego and resolving to follow the right path.