Ganesha, also spelt Ganesh, also called Ganapati, elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, who is traditionally worshipped before any major enterprise and is the patron of intellectuals, bankers, scribes, and authors. … Like a rat and like an elephant, Ganesha is a remover of obstacles.

Ganesha is the elephant-headed God of Hindus. He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is worshipped first in all auspicious occasions, religious worships and festivals. All Tantric and spiritual worship in the Hindu tradition begins with the invocation of Ganesha Stuti (Prayer). Ganesha is the destroyer of evils; remover of all obstacles; sources of all bliss and success in all undertakings. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, and wealth. Moreover, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Surya, Durga, Vishnu, and Shiva being other four) whose idolatry is glorified everyday as the Panchadeva Puja.

Ganesha is the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and brother of Skanda or Kumar Kartikeya. Ganesha is usually seen with four hands; each one has a special symbolic object in it. One holds a goad, the second holds an axe made from his broken tusk, the third holds a lotus flower, and the fourth holds a rosary. Multiple hands symbolize Ganesha’s multiple powers. Lord Ganesha has thousands of names. He is also popularly know as Ganapati, Vinayaka, Gajanana, Mangalmurti, Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Vigneshwara and many more.

Ganesha became the Lord of all existing beings (Gana) after winning a contest from his brother Kumar Kartikeya. The story tells Ganesha and his brother Kumar Kartikeya once had a dispute that who was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour around the world and come back first had the right to be the elder. Kumar Kartikeya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock, to make a circuit of the world. Ganesha did not start the race like his brother did, but simply walked around Shiva and Parvati, both his father and mother as the source of all existence; who also represent the entire manifested universe. Lord Shiva was pleased with Ganesha’s intelligence and declared him as a winner. He then was blessed as the Supreme God of the universe. Thus; the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers.

Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated as an occasion or a day on which Lord Ganesha makes his presence on earth for all his devotees. The festival is observed according to the Hindu calendar in the month of Bhaadrapada (around August and September), starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). It is among the most celebrated festivals in Nepal and South India, especially in western states of Maharashtra and Goa where the festival lasts for 10 days, ending on Ananta Chaturdashi.