The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha has an elephantine expression with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the Panchayatana Puja. "Ganesh Chaturthi" is a day of his birth and this festival is celebrated in his honor and is largely celebrated in the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. To celebrate this occasion, one must go to Mumbai where preparations begin months in advance. Images of Ganesha are installed within homes as well as in places of assembly. Elaborate arrangements are made for lighting and decoration and Ganesha is fervently worshipped for about 7-10 days. On the day of the Chaturthi, i.e. the last of the days dedicated to the elephant-headed god, thousands of processions converge on the beaches of Mumbai to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing. Significance Of The Ganesha

• Ganesha's head symbolizes the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies earthly existence of human beings.
• His head denotes wisdom
• The Trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality.
• In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way.
• The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.
• The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata.
• The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous.
• The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of soul.
• His fan-like ears convey that, he is an ear to our petition.
• The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms.
• And mouse next to him indicates that he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures.

The story of the birth of Ganesha as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes says: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader of his troops. Hence, name 'Ganapati'. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.

According to Hindu mythology Ganesha is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. "All Hindus worship Ganesha regardless of their sectarian belief," says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. "He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus."