Finally, the day has come to welcome into our homes on of our favourite Gods. He travels on the back of a tiny little mouse. One would wonder how that little creature must be bearing the weight of his big round belly. Such is the greatness of this God who is also the destroyer of all difficulties and obstacles, Vignaharta. Popularly known as Ganapathi Bappa or Lord Ganesha.

His story goes like this. One fine morning, it is said that Goddess Parvathi created the statue of a little boy out of clay and breathed life into him. Asking him to stand guard at the door she went to complete her morning rituals. This little boy was doing his duty diligently when Lord Shiva returned home from his rounds. On seeing this unknown man, the boy did not allow him into the house. On seeing this misbehaviour of the boy Lord Shiva was enraged and severed the head of the child. Goddess Parvathi on learning about this lost her temper and ordered Lord Shiva to bring the child back to life. After which Lord Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and attached it to the boy’s thus giving birth to Lord Ganesha.

On this day, Ganesha the God of wisdom, prosperity and auspiciousness is worshipped all over the world. Artisans across the country start working on various sizes and forms of idols of this God, to be worshipped in a grand manner. This festival is celebrated all over the country for a span of 1 to 10 days. On the 11th day these idols are taken through the beautifully decorated and lit up streets accompanied by pompous song and dance and are immersed into the river or sea. This is done to symbolise his journey back to mount Kailash while taking with him all our misfortunes.

He is bid adieu with the, oh so famous chant of “Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Phudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!” which means “Come back soon oh Lord Ganesha, don’t be long”.