Hindu Mythology(Lord Ganesha).

The Story of His Birth

Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles and the offspring of Shiva, the
Hindu god of destruction and his consort the goddess Parvathi. Several myths
detail his birth and acquisition of the elephant head. These myths vary by
region, tradition, and sect. A popular story about Ganesha’s birth begins with
the goddess Parvathi, who is lonely and longing for affection. Thus, she
creates a son from clay and ghee (clarified butter) and gives him life while her
partner Shiva is meditating on Mount Kailash.

One day, Parvathi goes to bathe, asking her son to stand guard. While she
bathes, Shiva returns only to be prevented entry by the young son he had yet
to meet. Angered, he cut off his head and went to find Parvathi. Soon realizing
what he had done, Shiva searched for the first being he could find, an
elephant, and placed that head on the boy, naming him “Ganesha” or “lord of
the elephants.” He then decreed that he would be the remover of obstacles,
always worshipped first in any ritual. Ganesha is also seen as the patron saint
of the arts.

More recently, Ganesha Chathurthi is not only celebrated in temples and

homes, but also online. Adherents can now conduct rituals and worship
ceremonies through apps, social media, and websites. Below are links that
detail the ways in which ritual celebration takes place in virtual spaces as well
as more information on the ritual celebration itself.