Ganesh Chaturthi
Birthday of Lord Ganesh
Find this year's date in the multifaith calendar
On this day Hindus all over the world celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesh Chaturthi).
Ganesh is also known by the names Ganapati, Ekadanta, Vinayaka, Pillaiyar and Heramba. Irrespective of what Hindu tradition, he is still one of the most popular deities for worship.
Ganesh is depicted with an elephant's head on a human body and in the Hindu tradition he is the son of Lord Siva and the Goddess Parvati. He is known as the Remover of Obstacles and is prayed to particularly when people are beginning a new enterprise or starting a new business. Ganesh is also known as the patron god of travelling.
In places such as Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra (in India), the festival is celebrated for ten days and is a joyous event and regarded as a public occasion. In other places it is simply celebrated at home and hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh. Sweets are also distributed because in Hindu legend Ganesh liked them.