Vinayaka Chaturthi or Ganesh Chaturthi

'Vinayak Chaturthi'  also known as Ganesha Chaturthi celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is observed during the Tamil month of Avani ( Hindu calender Bhadra ) (mid-August to mid-September).

On the day of the festival, a clay idol is placed on raised platforms in homes.( If a freshly made clay idol is not available, you can make your one that will nearly resemble the Lord Ganesha. You can also use any small Ganesha idols. Clay idol is preferred because this has to immersed in water or dissolved in water after 10 days or a month according to the custom you follow) .

This ritual is called 'pranapratishhtha'. The idol is decorated with sandal, kumkum new cloth and gold chains. After this the 'shhodashopachara' (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. 21 different types of leaves and flowers, 21 ‘thoorva’ (arugam pul) are offered. Ashtotram is chanted and after all the usual pooja rituals, appam, Aval,  payasam, vadai, 21 'modakas' (3 or 4 different types of kozhukattai -rice flour preparation), sundal,coconut, fruits are offered as neivetyam. Chanting or playing Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana and other prayers are recommended.

As per sampradayam the idol has to remain in your home till the next chaturthi that will fall after 30 days in the month of ‘purtasi’. The idol has to worshipped daily for the 30 days and the next day after the chaturthi of the month, the idol has to immersed in a river or sea / lake

Other Parts of India:

10 days from Avani Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, after the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made,the idol is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea / lake symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash. All join in this final procession shouting "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukariya" (Oh Lord Ganesha, come again early next year). 

Sankalpam for Vinayaka chathurti pooja  2 Sept 2019 (India), 2 Sept 2019 in USA

Mamopatha Samastha, duritha kshaya dwara, Shri Parameswara preethyartham subha sobana muhurthae,aadhyabrhmana thveethayapararthae,swetha varaha kalpae,vaivasatha manvantharae,  aashta vimsathi thame, kali yuge,prathame padhe, Jamboo dweepe, Bharatha varshe , Bharatha khande, (for USA - Krowncha dwieepe,Ramanaka varshe, uttara khande,) Meroe :  dakshine parshwe, asmin varthamane , vyavaharike prabhavaadheenam sashtyah samvatsaranaam, madhye, SARVARI(2020) nama samvatstare, Dakshinaayane, varsha rithou,SIMHA mase, shukla pakshe, chathurthyaam, shubha tithou,STHIRA vasara yukthayam(for USA BRIHU  vasara yukthayam), HASTA nakshatra yukthayam, shubhayoga, shubha karana evam guna, viseshana visishtaayam, asyam chathurthaayam shubha thithou,

mamaa janmapyasaath janmaprapruthi aethatshanparyandham, mathyae sambavidhaanaam sarvaesham papanaam sathya: abhanodhanaartham, asmaaham saha kudumbaanaam, kshema,thairia,veerya, vijaya,ayur, arokya,iswaryaanaam abhivrithyartham samastha mangalaavapthyartham,samastha ththoba santhyartham,mahaGanapathy prasaathena gnana vairkaya sithyartham, sidhi vinayaga poojam karishyae...