Parvati was a Hindu goddess. She was married to the great God Shiva. One day Parvati was feeling lonely. She made a boy out of soap.

Parvati brought the boy to life. She called him Ganesha. Ganesha watched out for people at the door. He didn’t let anyone in.

When Shiva came home he asked to come in. Ganesha did not know Shiva and would not let him pass.

Shiva got so angry he killed Ganesha by cutting off his head.

Parvati was very sad when she saw what had happened. Shiva was sad too. He did not know Ganesha was his son.

I shall cut the head off the first living thing I see! Shiva knew what he had to do.

The first living thing to come past was an elephant. Shiva killed the elephant and cut off his head

Shiva put the elephant’s head on Ganesha’s body Ganesha came back to life. Parvati was very happy. Ganesha became a God, like his parents.

Ganesha is the guardian of success and failure. He has four main skills. His ears are big and hear all the world’s problems. He has four to control earth, air fire and water. His trunk curves to show there is a way out of problems. His necklace holds seeds of life.

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