ABCW: Elephant God

The Elephant God also known as Lord Ganesha or Ganpati in India.
He has a very interesting story of how he got an elephant head.

His Birth

One day Goddess Parvati was at home on Mt.Kailash preparing for a bath. As she didn’t want to be disturbed, she told Nandi, her husband Lord Shiva’s Bull, to guard the door and let no one pass. Nandi faithfully took his post, intending to carry out Parvati’s wishes. But, when Shiva came home and naturally wanted to come inside, Nandi had to let him pass, being loyal first to Shiva. Parvati was annoyed that no one was that fiercly loyal to her. So she made a little baby structure with the turmeric paste that she used for bathing and put life into it and made it her son and named him Ganesh

The next time Parvati went for her bath, she posted Ganesha on guard duty at the door while Shiva was out. On Lord Shiva's return he saw this strange boy sitting at the door and not allowing him to go inside his own house.They little boy showed extreme strength & intelligence to not allow Lord Shiva inside.

Lord Shiva the lost his cool  and in his divine fury severed Ganesha’s head, killing him instantly. When Parvati learned of this, she was inconsolable to have lost her son. Soon her grief turned into anger and she decided to destroy the entire Creation! 

Lord Brahma, being the Creator, naturally had his issues with this, and pleaded that she reconsider her drastic plan. She said she would, but only if two conditions were met: one, that Ganesha be brought back to life, and two, that he be forever worshiped before all the other gods.

Shiva, having cooled down by this time, and realizing his mistake, agreed to Parvati’s conditions. He sent Brahma out with orders to bring back the head of the first creature he crosses that is laying with its head facing North. Brahma soon returned with the head of a strong and powerful elephant, which Shiva placed onto Ganesha’s body. Breathing new life into him, he declared Ganesha to be his own son as well, and gave him the status of being foremost among the gods, and leader of all the ganas (classes of beings), Ganapati.

The Ganesh festival known as Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated beautifully in Maharashtra, where people bring idols and offer prayers for 10 days, and on the 10th day then do a "visarjan" in running waters.

People chant "Ganpati Bappa Morya" and sing a special "aarti" (welcome song) and dance to dhols on the streets to welcome him

The orange dhol video is Ganpati Visarjan in Pune

The video below it is called the "Ganpati dance" famous in Mumbai

For me Lord Ganesha's story has always been intruding & Ganesh Chaturthi by far is my favorite festival.