Before a wedding card is printed, before a shop opens its doors, before a child writes the first letter of the alphabet, Hindus remember Shri Ganesh. He is Vighnaharta, the one who removes obstacles, and Siddhivinayak, the one who grants success. It is hard to think of a Hindu home without a small Ganesha somewhere near the door.
The story of Ganesha’s elephant head
Goddess Parvati once shaped a boy from sandalwood paste, breathed life into him and asked him to guard her door while she bathed. When Shiva returned, the boy, not knowing who he was, refused to let him in. In the fight that followed, Shiva struck off the boy’s head.
Parvati’s grief shook the heavens. To console her, Shiva sent his attendants to bring the head of the first living creature they found facing north. They returned with an elephant’s head, and Shiva placed it on the boy and brought him back to life. He blessed him to be Ganapati, the leader of his ganas, and declared that he would be worshipped first, before all other gods.
What Ganesha’s form teaches
- Large head: think big and use wisdom.
- Big ears: listen more.
- Small eyes: concentrate on what matters.
- Small mouth: speak less.
- Broken tusk (Ekadanta): he broke it to write the Mahabharata as sage Vyasa dictated, a lesson in sacrifice for knowledge.
- Large belly (Lambodar): the ability to digest life’s good and bad calmly.
- The mouse (Mooshak): even the restless mind and our many desires can be brought under control.
How to do Ganesh puja at home
- Place a Ganesha idol or picture facing east or north on a clean red or yellow cloth.
- Offer water, then apply sindoor or kumkum and chandan.
- Offer 21 blades of durva grass, red flowers and a janeu (sacred thread) if you have one.
- Place modak or laddoo as bhog, with a coconut and supari.
- Chant ॐ गं गणपतये नमः 11 or 108 times.
- Sing Ganesh Ji Ki Aarti: Jai Ganesh Jai Ganesh Deva and share the prasad.
For a full checklist see our pooja samagri list.
Special days for Ganesha
- Wednesdays are his day of the week.
- Sankashti Chaturthi, the fourth day after the full moon each month, is kept as a fast that is broken after seeing the moon.
- Ganesh Chaturthi, the great ten-day festival of Bhadrapad, is celebrated with special joy in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- At Diwali, Ganesha is worshipped together with Goddess Lakshmi.
Famous Ganesha temples
Mumbai’s Shree Siddhivinayak Temple, Pune’s Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati, the eight Ashtavinayak temples of Maharashtra, and Khajrana Ganesh in Indore are among the best-loved.
Other names of Ganesha
Ganesha is worshipped with 108 names (the Ganesha Ashtottara Shatanamavali). Twelve of them, the Dwadasha Nama, are recited at the start of any new work.
| Name | नाम | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ganpati | गणपति | The lord of the ganas, Shiva’s attendants |
| Vinayak | विनायक | The supreme leader |
| Vighnaharta | विघ्नहर्ता | The remover of obstacles |
| Gajanan | गजानन | The elephant-faced one |
| Ekadanta | एकदंत | The one with a single tusk |
| Vakratunda | वक्रतुंड | The one with the curved trunk |
| Lambodar | लम्बोदर | The big-bellied one, who holds the universe within |
| Sumukh | सुमुख | The one with the auspicious face |
| Siddhivinayak | सिद्धिविनायक | The Vinayak who grants success |
| Mangalmurti | मंगलमूर्ति | The form of all that is auspicious |
| Gauri Nandan | गौरीनंदन | The son of Gauri (Parvati) |
| Bhalchandra | भालचंद्र | The one with the moon on his forehead |
Lord Ganesha: common questions
Why is Lord Ganesha worshipped first?
Ganesha is Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, and the lord of beginnings. The gods themselves granted him the honour of being worshipped before any other deity, so every puja, wedding, house-warming and new venture begins with a prayer to him.
What is Lord Ganesha's favourite food?
Modak, a sweet dumpling filled with coconut and jaggery, is his favourite, along with besan or motichoor laddoo. Durva grass and red hibiscus flowers are his favourite offerings.
Who are Riddhi and Siddhi?
In many traditions, especially in Maharashtra and North India, Riddhi (prosperity) and Siddhi (spiritual accomplishment) are Ganesha's consorts. They are shown on either side of him, as in the painting on this page and at the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi celebrated?
Ganesh Chaturthi falls on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad, usually in late August or September. The festival lasts up to ten days and ends with Anant Chaturdashi, when the idols are immersed.
