It is important to remember not to look at the moon on the night of Ganesha Chaturthi. There is a legend where Lord Ganesha cursed the Moon and since then it is believed that anyone who lays eyes on the moon this night will be condemned to face false accusations in the year ahead.
Lord Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities, and is known for being the remover of obstacles, associated with new beginnings, and wisdom. He is easily able to be recognized because his head is that of an elephant, which symbolized the Atman, meaning soul. There is a long story behind how Ganesha came to harness the head of an elephant, and I’ll tell you the more popular, shortened version. His mother, Parvati …show more content…
Garlands of colorful flowers such as jasmine, lotus, or red flowers along with bright lights are used for décor to add beauty to the statue. Prayers are said along with mantras to invoke the spirit of Lord Ganesha and offerings are made, usually in the form of food, known as “Prasad” and has a sweet taste. There are different types of Prasad offered ranging from coconut, kheer (rice pudding), other fruits, and Lord Ganesha’s favorite modaks. These are sweet dumplings made from rice flour and has a candied filling of grated coconut mixed with jaggery— similar to a cross between a spiced syrup and buttery