In a village, there lived a couple called Sitaram and Sheetala. They had a son named Ganesh. Ganesh’s father died when he was just 5 years old. One year the festival called Ganesha Chaturthi was approaching. Many children gathered to play and they casually started discussing their plans. One of Ganesh’s friends, Panduranga said “This year my father is going to bring big Ganesh Idol to our home. We will make beautiful decorations. We will be playing musical instruments. I will fly to the fireworks.” On it, Madhava, Govind, Gopal all described how they will be celebrating the festival and what is special in their home for this event. Ganesh remained silent and did not speak anything as they did not have the custom to bring Ganesh Idol at home. Gopal asked Ganesh “Why don’t you keep Ganapati at home?” Madhava being pushy asked “Hay Ganesh, we all bring Ganapati at home. You seem to be the only odd one out!” To this Govind said “Don’t you know Ganesh has no father. Who will spend the money?”
Hearing all this Ganesh had a desire to bring Ganapati idol at home. He expressed his desire to his mother. Sheetala educated him “Ganesh! Ganapati’s festivities are very strict. Twenty-one types of leaves, twenty-one Modaka’s, twenty-one types of dishes need to be prepared. If you make any mistakes, the gods will be very angry. We are very poor and will not be able to afford all these. Hence please don’t be stubborn on this”.
However, Ganesh insisted “Mother! Tell me how much money we have.” Sheetala said” We have only three rupees. “Ganesh started clapping and dancing. “You say, you have three rupees. We will bring a tiny Ganesha idol with one rupee, Sugar and Coconut with another rupee, and a third rupee we will use for oil so that we can light the lamp. We will have a lot of fun.”
Seeing his boys' intense desire, Sheetala did as per his wish and brought the Ganesh idol at home. Addressing his mother that night before sleeping Ganesh said “Our Ganapati is very small. What if his tummy starts hurting after eating all this sugar and coconut? What if he has to use our backyard? He can’t be going alone.”
Sheetala told him “After leaving 5 steps, dig a small pit and cover it with cardboard. It will be useful for him”
After digging the pit, Ganesh prayed to God, “Lord Ganesh!! I know you like Modaka’s. As we have only one rupee to spend, I fed you with Sugar and coconut. In the night if your tummy hurts and you end up in a situation where you have to use the backyard, I have dug a pit nearby for your use. I will clear it immediately.” Ganesh feels asleep after this but he got up in the middle of the night and looks aside at the cardboard covered on the pit. Seeing Ganesh getting up 5 times till dawn, lord Ganesha felt pity. He filled the pit with diamonds. On the sixth time, Ganesh saw something different when he moved cardboard aside. He had never seen diamonds before. He immediately called his mother.
Sheetala came near and pit and seeing the sight she was surprised and overwhelmed with love and devotion. “God! what a generous heart you have! We only spend 3 rupees and you have gifted plenty. How much we should appreciate you awarding Ganesh with all this wealth enough to last for a lifetime.” She was filled with tears of happiness. Sheetala and Ganesh bowed before lord Ganesh and worshipped him. They decided to celebrate the Ganesh festival every year from then on in a grand manner.
Ganesh showed the tiny Ganapati idol to all his friends and happily celebrated the rest of the day. In the evening he let go of the idol along with other neighbors’ idols.
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