Ganeshji was born on Sukul Paksh Chouth in the month of Bhadon (which falls sometimes in September of the European calendar) and is known as Ganesh Chaturthi. He was born in Kashi in the home of his maternal grandparents. Himachal and Maina while Lord Shiv had gone to Mount Kailash for tapasya.

Importance of Festivals:

Sometimes shown with two hands in a dance pose (abhaya and varda mudra). Gajamukh (elephant face), Baraganapati and Tarunaganapati depict him as a child and a young man. Vinayak has the four arms in which he holds his trunk and retains the rosary. In his form as Herambeganapati he has five heads and ten hands, three eyes in each face and rides on a lion.

As Viranvighnesa, he exhibits a martial spirit with several weapons held in his ten hands. Shaktiganapati is shown with his 'Shakti' or his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi (success and prosperity) or Buddhi (knowledge)or even Lakshmi sitting supposed to grant you wishes very quickly. Then there is the Nattaganapati, a beautiful form, showing him in a graceful dance pose; Ganesh is supposed to have taken this strength when the Creator bowed to him and he was so happy that he started to dance and thus earned the title of the master of the arts of music and dance.

 Lakshmiji, the consort of Vishnu, is always placed along with Ganeshji. Because we love Lakshmiji (wealth) and are ever worried about annoying her, to be on the safe side we worship her along with Ganesh. Since she cannot precede him, she sits next to him; she is never neglected. She is always placed to the right of him as she is like a mother to him. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all over India, but the people of Maharashtra have made Lord Ganesh their patron.

Lokmanya Tilak realised that community celebrations in a big way, making it into a community affair-Ganesh became the beloved of the people of Maharashtra. The Maharashtrians celebrate this festival like the Bengalis do Durga Puja and the Oriyas Rath Yatra.

A beautiful chowk in front of the deity decorated with flowers and with powder of different colors.Iit can be changed everyday if one so desires. Two oil-lamps stand on either side of the idol and a thaal with kumkum and haldi and another thaal and katoris for serving the food cooked for the family are placed nearby. 

This is first offered to be deity and then eaten for lunch and dinner. Special prasad is made only on the first day (rice and arhar dal are usually made). Any seasonal vegetable is cooked without onion garlic. A special sweet is made every day to make the ten days especially festival. Some people keep a fast for just the day, but the urat is not a tough one. Til and gur (jaggery), in the form of gazak, revri or til ke laddoo, are taken along with other mithai. Tea and coffee and water are allowed throughout the day.

Ganesh is worshipped in Maharashatra in his mature form. His idols are not dressed with actual clothes, but clothes are painted onto idols. The clothes are painted in red. The torso have an angavastra, jewellery covers the neck and reaches right up to the stomach, and the lower part has a yellow or red dhoti. Ganeshji's stomach protrudes as he loves good food. 

Ganeshji always wear a tiara or a crown on his head and a belt round his stomach to keep the garments from slipping off. The belts is in the form of a snake which he inherited from his father, Lord Shiv, who has serpents hanging all over him. The trunk of Ganesh can point either to the right or left. Now a days, it is also made straight. 

It is said that a trunk to the left is made for the idol which is not worshipped. The trunk points to the right in idols that are made of stone and are installed in temples. Now, however, you will find idols made from plaster, metal or stone with trunks pointing to wherever the artist fancies.