Ganesh Chaturthi Myths

According to the Hindu religion, there is a myth which tells that anyone who sees the moon on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi will be accused of doing something wrong. If by mistake a person sees the moon then there is only one solution to keep the troubles away and that is, by reciting or listening to the story of the syamantaka jewel which is there in the Puranas. In the very famous legend related to Lord Ganesha, the basis of this myth has been mentioned and explained. Lord Ganesha, the God of good fortune, wisdom, intelligence and prosperity, on one of his birthdays, ate large amount of 21 types of sweets including laddus, modaks and sweet porridge made by his mother, Goddess Parvati. He, after eating, went for a nightly round on his vehicle rat but suddenly a snake came in front of the rat and was scared to see it. After this, the rat stumbled and Lord Ganesha fell down and all the sweets came out from his potbelly as it burst. Then quickly Lord Ganesha put all the sweets inside his belly and tied that snake around his belly as a belt. At that time, he heard the voice of laughing and when he looked up, he saw that the moon was mocking at him. Seeing this, he became very angry and broke off one of his tusks and threw it at the moon. Also, he cursed the moon saying, that whoever will see the moon on the festive occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, will be blamed of a wrong doing. Even today the myth has survived and people avoid looking at the moon on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.