Vinayak Chaturthi Story

Once, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva were sitting near a river when Parvati expressed her wish to play a game of dice (Chaupad). However, there was no one else present to act as a referee for their game. To solve this issue, they created a clay figure and brought it to life, instructing the child to observe the game carefully and decide who won and who lost. As the game began, Parvati consistently defeated Shiva. But at one point, the child mistakenly declared Parvati as the loser. This error angered Parvati greatly, and she cursed the child, causing him to become lame. The child begged for her forgiveness and asked her to lift the curse. Although Parvati explained that the curse could not be undone, she offered a solution: the child could worship Lord Ganesh with devotion on Sankashti Chaturthi to be freed from his affliction. The child followed Parvati's advice, observing the fast and performing the rituals with dedication. His prayers pleased Lord Ganesh, who appeared before him and granted him a wish. The child expressed his desire to return to Shiva and Parvati. Ganesh fulfilled his wish and sent him to Kailash. However, upon arriving there, he found only Shiva, as Parvati had left Kailash due to her anger. When Shiva asked the child how he had reached Kailash, he explained that Lord Ganesh’s blessings had brought him there. Learning this, Shiva decided to perform the same fast and rituals to win Parvati back. His devotion pleased Parvati, and she returned to Kailash, reuniting with Shiva.