In years past, I have written about Ganesha’s oceanic wisdom, quicksilver wit, mastery of music, and his formidable appetite. This year, another story.

Kubera, the Lord of Wealth, had a problem common to very rich men: it was not enough to possess a great fortune. Other people had to know about it.

So he decided to throw a magnificent banquet and invited Shiva and Parvati. The tables would groan, the palace would glitter, the kitchens had been instructed not to stop. This was Kubera’s chance to impress the Great God Himself.

Shiva saw through him immediately.

He declined the invitation, but told a disappointed Kubera that his son Ganesha would fill in.

Shiva offered one warning: his son had a voracious appetite.

Kubera snickered – how much could one little boy possibly eat?

Ganesha arrived, took his place, ate everything placed before him, and asked for more.

More arrived. He ate that too.

The cooks cooked. Ganesha ate. They cooked faster. He ate faster.

Soon the kitchens ran out of food and the pantries emptied. Then the storehouses.

Still hungry.

With nothing left to serve, Ganesha started on the plates, then the utensils, then the furniture. Kubera watched his showpiece palace disappear course by course.

Finally Ganesha eyed Kubera the way a man eyes the last item on the buffet.

Terrified, the Lord of Wealth fled to Shiva.

Shiva gave him a handful of roasted rice and told him to offer it to Ganesha, this time without pride.

Kubera returned and humbly made the offering.

Ganesha ate it. And was satisfied.

Kubera had thrown a party to demonstrate how much he possessed. Ganesha showed him how little all of it was worth.

And naturally, being Ganesha, he did it over lunch.