It's that time of the year again that the Hindu community celebrate the festival to honour Ganesh, the elephant God. This festival lasts for 10 days, during this time his followers buy statues of their God and decorate them with offerings. On the tenth day they will take their offering and submerge it in the ocean or river.
Over the last week we have seen some amazing sights. From people out shopping for their statues and offerings to the truck loads of men on their pilgrimage to set their lord free in the ocean. To temples set up on the side of the road with huge brightly painted statues. I also saw people all lining the bridge throwing their offerings into the river.
This is the story (below) of how Ganesha got to be the Elephant god.
Ganesh's mother was the goddess Parvati and his father was the god Shiva. One day, not long before Ganesh was born, his father Shiva went on a journey, leaving Parvati at home. Shiva was away for many years, and during that time Ganesh grew from a baby to a young man.
One spring morning Ganesh was outside when he saw a stranger with long, matted hair, wearing animal skin and with snakes wriggling about him. The stranger wanted to come into the house! He looked frightening and dangerous. Ganesh stood in front of him and tried to stop him because he wanted to protect his mother. What Ganesh didn't know was that this stranger was his father Shiva, and Shiva didn't know that the boy was his son Ganesh. Shiva is known as a quick-tempered god, and he didn't like anyone standing in his way. So he took his sword and cut off the head of Ganesh!
At that moment Parvati came out, to see her husband with his sword in his hand and her son lying on the ground. ‘What have you done, what have you done?’ she cried. ‘You have killed our son.’ Shiva was truly sorry and promised to make things right again, by replacing Ganesh's head with the head of the first living creature he saw.
He searched for many miles. What animal do you think he saw? The first creature he saw was a baby elephant. And that's why Ganesh has the head of an elephant and the body of a man. He has a rather chubby body too, because he is said to like eating sweet things.
One spring morning Ganesh was outside when he saw a stranger with long, matted hair, wearing animal skin and with snakes wriggling about him. The stranger wanted to come into the house! He looked frightening and dangerous. Ganesh stood in front of him and tried to stop him because he wanted to protect his mother. What Ganesh didn't know was that this stranger was his father Shiva, and Shiva didn't know that the boy was his son Ganesh. Shiva is known as a quick-tempered god, and he didn't like anyone standing in his way. So he took his sword and cut off the head of Ganesh!
At that moment Parvati came out, to see her husband with his sword in his hand and her son lying on the ground. ‘What have you done, what have you done?’ she cried. ‘You have killed our son.’ Shiva was truly sorry and promised to make things right again, by replacing Ganesh's head with the head of the first living creature he saw.
He searched for many miles. What animal do you think he saw? The first creature he saw was a baby elephant. And that's why Ganesh has the head of an elephant and the body of a man. He has a rather chubby body too, because he is said to like eating sweet things.
2 comments:
Fascinating Megs. To think Sarah thinks everyone in her family is so annoying. I think i better tell her about GanesH!!!
Saw a clip on CNN about how harmful to the environment this ritual is... apparently all the lead based paint they use to color the Ganesh's is so toxic that it's leading to some tragedy's... like we're surprised by that. =)
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