Ganesha is the Hindu deity traditionally depicted with an elephant’s head.
He is widely revered as the remover of obstacles, the patron of beginnings, and the god associated with intellect and wisdom. A popular myth says that Ganesha was created by Parvati and stood guard while she bathed. Shiva, unaware that Ganesha was his son, severed the boy’s head after a confrontation. Shiva later restored him with the head of an elephant.
The story has many regional and textual variations, but the elephant-headed form is the defining feature of Ganesha’s iconography. He is commonly shown with a large belly, four arms, and a mouse as his vehicle.
Ganesha’s festival, Ganesh Chaturthi, is especially prominent in Maharashtra and other parts of India. He is often invoked before ceremonies, journeys, examinations, and new ventures.