Ganesh Chaturthi Katha — Ganesha's Creation

One day, Goddess Parvati wished to bathe without disturbance on Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was away on one of His long cosmic wanderings, and there was no one to guard Her door.

Parvati took some turmeric paste — which She used for bathing — and shaped it into the form of a beautiful, strong boy. She breathed life into him and said: "You are my son. Guard this door. Do not let anyone enter, no matter who they are."

The boy stood faithfully at the door. When Lord Shiva returned from His wanderings, He was surprised to find a boy blocking His own home. The boy, loyal to his mother's command and not knowing Shiva, refused to let Him pass.

Shiva tried to reason with the boy, but the boy stood firm. Shiva's attendants — the Ganas — tried to remove the boy by force, but the boy defeated them all with great valor. A great battle erupted. Finally, in anger, Lord Shiva raised His trident and severed the boy's head.

When Parvati emerged and saw Her son lying headless, Her grief turned to rage. She threatened to destroy the entire creation. The gods were terrified. Brahma and Vishnu approached Her with folded hands and asked what would pacify Her. "Restore my son to life," She commanded.

Shiva, moved by love for Parvati and recognising the justice of the boy's loyalty, instructed His Ganas: "Go north and bring the head of the first living creature you find facing that direction." They returned with the head of an elephant. Shiva placed it on the boy's body, breathed divine life into him, and declared: "Henceforth, this child shall be worshipped first in all ceremonies. He shall be called Ganesha — the Lord of all my Ganas." Thus Ganesha received his elephant head and his supreme boon of first worship.