Vinayakar chatruthi @ ganesh pooja

Ganesh Pooja was started in a big fashion by Lokmanya Bala gangadhar tilak in the Advent of bringing people together during freedom struggle in Mumbai,it can be traced back further to Chatrapathi Shivani period where he started the festival in the purpose of promotion of culture and nationalism. More than the religious and superstitious aspect it was started in the purpose of culture and nationalism which we have lost track currently,more religious ness,spiritualism,idolism and ecological issues has entered,it's time we reinvent and adapt the festival more for the greater good of the country.
We used to do thopukaranam particularly in Tamil Nadu  a Tamil word which is a way of worshipping Lord Ganesh or Vinayakar,this has been depicted as a symbol of punishment we're as it's actually a super brain yoga technique,which has become very popular world wide,Ganesh is the god of knowledge,so by doing thopukaranam to him we are improving the brain power and pray to gain More knowledge,why this is not taught in Indian schools is still a mystery.

Thopukaranam/super power brain yoga:

When to do: Preferably in the early morning, facing the east (the sun). But if this is not possible, practice this anytime at your convenience.

Step 1 (Starting position): Stand with your feet pointing ahead, about shoulder width apart. It would a good practice to press the tongue firmly into the roof of the mouth.

Step 2: Place your left hand on your right ear lobe, thumb on the front of the lobe with fingernail facing outward and index finger behind the ear lobe. The right ear lobe represents the left brain. When you hold the right ear lobe in this manner, you energize and activate the left brain and pituitary gland.

Step 3: Place your right hand on your left ear lobe, so that your thumb is on the front of the lobe facing outward. The left ear lobe represents the right brain. Holding the left ear lobe this way energizes and activates the right brain and thepineal gland.

Step 4 Press both earlobes simultaneously, making sure your left arm is inside your right.

Step 5: Pressing into the earlobes in this manner, inhaling through the nose, squat down as fully as you can, keeping your back straight. 

Exhale through the mouth as you come up.

Repeat this for at least 10 to 12 rounds to start off with and gradually increase this practice to about 15 minutes at your own pace