Stunning Photos Of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival

Stunning Photos Of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival
An Indian artist paints an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, Aug.24, 2014. The festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
An Indian artist paints an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, Aug.24, 2014. The festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha who is widely worshiped by Hindus as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Ganesh Chaturthi 2014

August 29 marked the beginning of the 2014 Ganesh Chaturthi festival, a Hindu holiday that honors Lord Ganesh, the god of intellect and wisdom.

The son of goddess Parvati, Ganesh is identified by his elephant head, which he acquired after having his own human head severed by Shiva. After killing his wife's young son in an act of jealousy, Shiva brings Ganesh back to life as a god and bestows upon him a new head -- that of an elephant.

Hindus honor Ganesh during this 10-day festival, where statues of the deity abound and are treated with utmost reverence:

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A volunteer prepares to immerse a clay idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Bangalore, India, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
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Hindu devotees, faces smeared with colored powder, carry a clay idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha to immerse in a lake on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Bangalore, India, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
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A Hindu devotee carries a clay idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha into a taxi during Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
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An Indian artist paints an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, Aug.24, 2014. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
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An Indian artisan works on an idol of Hindu God Ganesha for sale ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)
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An Indian artisan adds finishing touches to an idol of elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha at a workshop on the outskirts of Chennai, India, Monday, Aug. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K)
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An Indian artist gives finishing touches to an idol of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha at a roadside studio in Kolkata, India, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

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Ganesh Chaturthi 2014

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