Ganesh-Moon Story - English

Lord Ganesha had a weakness for sweets. He could not stop himself from taking the sweets, whenever anyone offered them to him. One night Lord Ganesha was returning home after a feast, carrying some sweets.  He had eaten too much and his stomach was full. While riding on his chariot mouse, a snake came along the way and the mouse got scared after seeing the snake. The rat stumbled and Lord Ganesha fell down. All the sweets were scattered everywhere and his dress was torn.

Lord Ganesha was feeling embarrassed as he picked himself up. He dusted himself and collected all his sweets. He looked around hoping no one had seen him. Unfortunately the Moon – Chandra Deva had seen everything.

Seeing the pot-bellied Ganesha struggle and fall, Chandra Deva started laughing hard. He always thought of himself as very handsome and that the pot-bellied Ganesha with his stumpy feet and elephant head looked funny.

Lord Ganesha was annoyed when he saw Chandra Deva laughing at him. 'Chandra!' Lord Ganesha bellowed angrily as Chandra Deva stopped laughing. 'You laughed at me! You think you are so handsome! I curse you that henceforth you will disappear from the sky and never show your face again.

Chandra Deva immediately came up to Lord Ganesha. 'Lord! Please forgive me! I was proud! I am sorry...Please! Chandra Deva begged the Lord.

'Chandra, I cannot take back my words' Lord Ganesha saw Chandra Deva droop and look at him desperately, 'But listen, Chandra, I will lessen your curse. You will slowly reduce your appearance and there will be only one day when there will be no moon in the sky. On the days following the new moon day, you will keep increasing in size and finally glow on the fifteenth day in your full size.'

Chandra nodded his head happily, 'Thank you, Lord!'

Lord Ganesha thought of something and said that since you laughed at me on the Chaturthi, whoever sees you on this day, would have some problems.

It was from that day onwards that the moon has been decreasing in size before the no moon day and increased till the full moon day!

Source:http://hindumythologyforgennext.blogspot.com/2012/01/ganesha-and-moon.html