Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated on the occasion of birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is the day when lord Shiva declared his son Ganesha as superior to all the gods (except Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati). Ganesha symbolizes, god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Traditionally at the beginning of any new venture/good work/ the start of travel, lord Ganesha is worshipped (praying for successful completion of work).
Why One Should Not See The Moon On The Day Of Ganesh Chaturthi?
There are many stories on this. Few of them are listed below:
1. Moon God (Chandra) was handsome and was always proud of his looks. Even humans compare a beautiful face with the glowing moon. May be too much of praise made Moon God proud.
One day, when Lord Ganesha was walking, Moon God (Chandra) tried to make fun of him by making sarcastic remarks. He commented upon the belly and the elephant head of Lord Ganesha.
Though Lord Ganesha kept his cool, he realized that Moon should be punished in order to make him level headed, humble and polite. So,Ganesha looked at the arrogant moon and cursed him saying that nobody will look at him or praise him from that day. Due to that curse, if anyone looks at the Moon, they will face false allegations and suffer bad name even when innocent.
Not expecting such a serious reaction, Moon God got shattered and devastated to face such a humiliating punishment. His arrogance and rudeness vanished in a jiffy. All other Gods around were worried with this development and started worshiping Lord Ganesha to appease him again and apologise.
At last, Ganesha was pleased and relieved Moon God from the curse but with a clause. Human beings can look at the moon on any day in the year but not on the day of 'Bhadrapada Chaturthi' which is the day of Ganesha Chaturthi. If anyone sees Moon on that day, they may face false allegations and may lose peace.
2. On Ganesha’s birthday, he was going around house to house accepting the offerings of sweets. He had a lot of them and later left the place with his vahan mouse. As the mouse saw the snake on its way it suddenly stumbled because of which Ganesha fell down and his stomach burst open and the food which he had, came out. But he stuffed them back into his stomach and tied the snake around his belly. Moon saw this and couldn’t control its laugh.Furious with such mindless behavior, Ganesha pulled out his tusks, hurled it against moon and cursed it, saying no one would look at the moon on that day,if any does they would get a bad name.
Effect of See the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi Night
Lord Ganesha said, "Your face will be worth showing on other days of the year, but on the fourth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada, Don't See the Moon on Ganesh Chaturthi Night day when you insulted me, whoever sees you will be slandered with a serious blemish within a year.This is necessary to give the message to the people that 'No one should be vain regarding one's physical beauty and charm.'
The Lord of all the gods and senses is the Self. You are ridiculing a Self-Realized personality like me? You are finding faults with my physical form and are proud of your outer beauty? You are oblivious of me, the Self, the source of all beauty that lends beauty to your outer form. That Self alone exists. Only he is found in the types of Lord Narayana, Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva as likewise in all creatures. O Moon! Indeed, even your genuine Being is that extremely self. Don't be proud of your outer beauty.