Sankashti Chaturthi

Once all the gods held a great race — whoever circled the entire universe first would receive a divine modak, Lord Ganesha's favourite sweet, as the prize. Lord Indra mounted his white elephant Airavata. Lord Kartikeya leapt onto his peacock. All the gods sped off at once, racing across the fourteen worlds and the seven oceans. Lord Ganesha looked at his vehicle — a small mouse named Mushika — and was quiet for a moment. Then he smiled with quiet wisdom. Instead of racing across the universe he walked slowly and lovingly around his parents Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati three times. He bowed to them with folded hands and stood still. When the gods returned exhausted from their great journey, Ganesha was already seated, peacefully eating his modak. The gods protested — "How can you have won? You never left!" Ganesha replied — "My father Shiva is the consciousness that pervades all creation. My mother Parvati is the divine energy that animates all existence. To circle them with love and devotion is to circle the universe itself — for they contain it entirely. What greater pilgrimage is there than the feet of one's own parents? What greater universe is there than one's own home?" Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were moved to tears of joy. Ganesha was declared the winner. The gods fell silent in humility and in awe. We worship Lord Ganesha on Sankashti Chaturthi — the fourth lunar day in the waning fortnight — and we break our fast only after sighting the moon. He who removed all obstacles not with speed or strength but with wisdom, devotion, and love.