Ganesh Chaturthi 2014

The story is told that Ganesha and his brother Kartikeya once found themselves arguing, as siblings often do. To resolve the dispute, they sought the counsel of their parents, the great Shiva and Goddess Parvati. To determine the winner, Lord Shiva proposed a race: three laps around the Universe. Kartikeya mounted his peacock and swiftly dashed out of sight, eager to take the lead. Ganesha, however, remained calm. He walked over to Shiva & Parvati, circled them three times, and bowed, saying, “You, my dear parents, are both the manifest Universe as well as my Universe. I have completed the race.”

This parable encapsulates Ganesha’s essence – loving, highly intelligent, impish, and a fount of wisdom. Widely revered in India, he is acknowledged as a peerless scholar, music runs in his blood, and as his portly figure suggests, good vegetarian food and sweets are dear to him. It was Ganesha who transcribed the great Hindu epic Mahabharata in real time as the sage Vyasa dictated it.

Ganesha holds a special place in Hindu households where he is considered an integral part of the family. Children are particularly fond of him, not least because his presence heralds a flurry of traditional sweets prepared by busy mothers. He is invoked at the beginning of every new venture, and his blessings sought at major life events. Generations of students, given to goofing off have been known to petition him for a lifeline just before writing their final exam.

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated every year, and the festivities in western and southern India are especially intense.