Chaturthi

The fourth lunar day (chaturthi) is associated with the worship of Ganesha or Vinayaka. The observance of a vrata and the eating of sesame seeds on this day leads to the acquiring of punya.

Initially, all work deserving merit could be accomplished without any difficulty. But over time, difficulties became more common. The gods felt the need for a god who deeds and would also restrain evil deeds. The gods requested Rudra to create such a god.

Rudra created a wonderful being named Vinayaka from his mouth. But Rudra also created numerous other Vinayakas from the pores of his body. They were all identical in appearance with the first one who had been born. The gods and the sages could not decide who was to be the chief among all these Vinayakas

Brahma arrived at this juncture. He pacified the angry Rudra and decreed that the one who had been born out of Rudra’s mouth would be the chief or the leader. The others would be his assistants and companions and would be known as the ganas. The original one would be the leader (isha or pati) of the ganas and would be known as Ganapati or Ganesha. The assembled gods and sages Ganapati with holy water.

Ganapati’s birth took place on chaturthi and that is why chaturthi is sacred.

(The Puranas, of course, have other accounts of the origin of Ganesha. They can be found in the Skanda Purana and the Brahmavaivarta Purana).