Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh , the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.

 We start any work with Ganesh. Ganesh is, above all, the Protector, the One who is invoked before any undertaking, any beginning. Ganesh is an extremely popular God in India. He is called Vighneshvara or Vighnaharta, the Lord of and destroyer of obstacles. People mostly worship Him asking for siddhi, success in undertakings, and buddhi, intelligence. He is worshipped before any venture is started. He is also the God of education, knowledge and wisdom, literature, and the fine arts.

The Story of Ganpati (Ganesh)
 
Ganesha is a son of lord Shiva and Parvati. When Shiva was coming back from his "Samadhi", he didn't know that Ganesha was his son. Ganesha didn't let lord Shiva in the house because mother Parvati was bathing. Lord Shiva got mad and cut his head off and went in to the house. When Parvati saw the bloody trident or "Trishul"(Shiva's weapon) she got scared and asked him what happened. Lord Shiva said that he had cut a little boy's head off because he wouldn't let him in to his own house. Parvati cried and told Shiva that Ganesha was his son. Shiva felt bad for what he did, and threw his "Trishul." The "Trishul" returned with a head of a baby elephant. Lord Shiva put the head on Ganesha's body and gave him life.

Why the Elephant Head
 
Why did Shiva decided to put elephant's head instead of his own head lying on the ground? The big ears, nose, small eyes, big belly and head are the symbolic. The big head symbolizes wisdom and knowlege. Large ears
symbolizes the ability to hear well and that listening can make one a better person. Small eyes symbolizes the ability to see the future and the reality instead of the maya (illusion) outside. The big nose (trunk) symbolizes the ability to smell the good and the bad in the person from far away. The big belly symbolizes the ability to digest everything good or bad from the people. 
 
What about the Mouse?
 
Ganesh is often depicted with a mouse. The mouse is considered to be his vehicle for transportation. The mouse is chosen for his speed. Because mouse runs around all the time it needs a heavy person like Ganesha to sit on it. This symbolizes one's thoughts and hopes. Thoughts and hopes run around in any direction and you need to control them.