Symbolism of Ganesh

On Saturday next week, is Ganesh Chaturthi, it is the festival where Lord Ganesh, the elephant headed God of the Hindu Pantheon, is worshipped. It is a festival thats celebrated more rigorously in the States of Maharastra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andra Pradesh. He Governs the aspects of Wisdom, Knowledge, working through obstacles and of taking life as it comes. Maybe that's the reason he's my favorite. Those of you who have studied any religion, would know that religion is usually filled with symbolism which have as deep a meaning as the interpreter. Symbolism, is not a SLR camera with the WYSIWYG(what you see is what you get). I had to go hunting for the meanings of the symbolism in Ganesh. Here is what I found.

Legends say that Ganesh was created out of the Sandalwood paste that Parvathi(Shiva's consort) used on her body before taking a bath. She made a model of a Boy with this paste and breathed life into it. She then asked him to guard the door, to not let anyone in while she bathed. When Shiva arrives at the door, he finds that he cant go into his own home because this dutiful son would not allow him in. The Boy then has a confrontation with Shiva's army and with Shiva and beat them in the battle. Annoyed, Shiva severs his head. After her bath, Parvathi discovers her dead son and became inconsolable. The head of the Boy was smashed beyond repair. So Shiva sends his horde asking them to bring the first living being, sleeping with its head to the North(this is probably why most Hindus do not keep their Beds with the Head facing North). They come across an elephant sleeping with this head towards the North. They sever the head and get it back to Shiva who then fits it on to the body of the boy and grants him the boon of being the First to be worshipped on any Occasion… So it has come to be that before the start of any endeavor, prayers and offerings are made to Lord Ganesh.
The Ganesh Sholka:
"Om, Shri Vakratunda Mahaakaaya, Suryakotee Sama Prabha,
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa"
Meaning :
O Lord of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.
This is said at the beginning of a journey or a start of the day's work . Every Manifestation of God has a Root sound associated with them, the root sound associated with Ganesh is "Gum" .
Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations:
The celebrations start with - A like clay model of Lord Ganesha is made 2-3 months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The size of this idol may vary from 3/4th of an inch to over 25 feet. On the day of the festival, it is placed on raised platforms in homes or in elaborately decorated outdoor tents for people to view and pay their homage. The priest, usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl, then invokes life into the idol amidst the chanting of mantras. This ritual is the pranapratishhtha, which literally means Instilling Life. After this the shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas (rice flour preparation), 21 durva (trefoil) blades and red flowers are offered. The idol is anointed with red unguent (rakta chandan). Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted. For 10 days, from Bhadrapad Shudh Chaturthi(most hindus follow the Lunar Calendar) to the Ananta Chaturdashi, Ganesha is worshipped. On the 11th day, the image is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in his journey towards his abode in Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. After the final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made, people carry the idol to the river to immerse it.
Source : About.com
Here are some recipes that are made specially for the celebrations.
Have A blessed Ganesh Chaturthi!
Peace Always
Mithuna.