Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

Dear Friends,

We wish you all a very happy and blessed Ganesh Chaturthi!

Today tens of millions of people around the world are celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha—the benevolent elephant-headed deity who is one of the most revered and beloved members of the Hindu pantheon of gods.

It is easy to understand why Ganesha is so widely-loved and held in such high esteem by so many:  Ganesha is worshiped as the the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and as the remover of all obstacles standing in the way of our success. For this reason, he is often portrayed riding in a vehicle pulled by a rat—the elephant representing wisdom and might and the rat representing subtlety and cunning. While the elephant can use its size and might to push through the densest of jungles, the rat obtains the same objective using its wits by scampering around or burrowing beneath anything in its path. When the elephant and rat work together, nothing can stand in their way, illustrating that both mightiness and subtlety are necessary to overcome the varied obstacles that can block us from achieving success in life.

Ganesha’s presence is invoked during most religious ceremonies in India, regardless of sect; he is usually depicted as being pot-bellied an affable. His kind, generous demeanor and rotund belly represent the affluence and benevolence sought by those who ask his blessing.

We hope that you will all feel Lord Ganesha’s benevolent presence surround you on this special day, and that you will be showered by his many blessing throughout your life.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!