| Lord Ganesha, the elephant headed God is the first | | | | To make up for his deformity, Lord Shiva bestowed |
| God, is considered the first God. He is very revered in | | | | the powers of a God on Ganesha and made it |
| India as he is the epitome of wisdom and good luck | | | | mandatory that no activity could begin without invoking |
| and no auspicious work can be begun without chanting | | | | his name and blessings. Since then, any inauguration of |
| prayers to worship him. His elephant-head and small | | | | a house, a business or a building is not begun without |
| shrewd eyes symbolizes wisdom, his long ears and | | | | Ganesh puja. |
| long nose cannot miss anything and his vehicle, the | | | | There is another myth surrounding him. In childhood, |
| mouse reflects the fact that a wise man will give | | | | Ganesha was very fond of sweets and pudding. |
| importance even to the most insignificant and small | | | | Once, when he was full of such sweets, a snake |
| creatures and life forms. | | | | came up and scared his mouse at which his stomach |
| The elephant head is a symbol of wisdom as | | | | burst and the sweets came out. However, Ganesha |
| elephants are considered to be very wise animals. | | | | stuffed them back and tied the snake around his belly. |
| Also, the symbolic philosophy is that of evolution - a | | | | The moon saw all this and laughed out loud, which |
| mouse gradually becomes an elephant and then a | | | | annoyed Ganesha and he hurled one of his tusks at |
| man. | | | | the moon and cursed that anyone who looks at the |
| The myth behind Lord Ganesha’s birth: | | | | moon on Ganesh Chaturthi will earn disrepute and ill |
| In the ancient ages of the Gods, once Lord Shiva had | | | | luck. |
| left his wife, Goddess Parvati alone, she got scared of | | | | The Festival of Ganesh Chaturthi: |
| being alone and created a son, Ganesh with her divine | | | | Ganesh Chaturthi is the birthday of Lord Ganesha and |
| powers and asked him to protect the house. When | | | | it falls on the 4th day of the fortnight of Bhadrapada |
| Lord Shiva came back, he stubbornly refused to let | | | | (August-September). All devoted Hindus celebrate this |
| him enter the house as Parvati had gone to her bath | | | | occasion in all parts of the world and milk and sweets |
| and ordered that no one should enter. | | | | are offered at homes and temples to the idols of |
| An angry Shiva chopped off the boy’s head. When | | | | Ganesh and Ganesh puja is performed. Small lamps |
| Parvati lamented over his mistake, Shiva ordered that | | | | are lighted and floated in the sacred rivers in the |
| the boy should be brought back to life with the head of | | | | evening. |
| the first creature that his army came across in the | | | | Everyone prays to Lord Ganesha to provide inner |
| forest. Unfortunately, it was the head of an elephant | | | | spiritual strength, wisdom and good luck so that they |
| and its head was cut off and Ganesha was brought | | | | can attain good luck and prosperity in all their |
| to life. | | | | undertakings. |