Ganesh Festival - Some beliefs

The 10 days Ganesh festival is to begin tomorrow. Its a time when these ten days do divert our minds from the day to day hustle and bustle. Infact this is the beginning of a series of festivals - that all essentially serve the same purpose. Over the years I have come to know of several beliefs associated with this festival. Not all may be true, but still I'm listing them below.

• If it rains on Ganesh Chaturthi ( the first day of the ten day festivities) - then it will rain on each of the ten days. Similarly if it doesnt rain on the first day, the ten days will also remain dry.

• If one brings Ganesh to ones home - then one must bring the God every subsequent year, else the God may be angry. This issue gets entangled in the economics and religion of daily life. Usually new parents have a tough time convincing youngsters (who insist on bringing Ganesh home) about the entire thing. Maybe some lessons here itself being taught by the God. Ive also been told in order to accommodate practicalities of life - a new "revised" belief has started making rounds - in which the span of bringing Ganesh can be limited to a five year stretch.

• Ganesh pooja's and the religious ceremonies are performed only by males - and that too only the main menfolk or their sons. Sons-in-laws please excuse. Each time the aarti is done they let the person who rings the bell and holds the plate etc. change - to give each one importance.

• During visarjan, the Ganesh idol is dipped in and out the water body three times. The third time it is actually released. ( I dont know how this rule gets interpreted when they do the visarjan of the 50 - 60 feet behemoths ). [ Life and Religion are actually lessons in interpretation and looking at the big-picture from all perspectives. ]

If you are aware of more such beliefs then do comment - and if you know some corrected versions of the above mentioned ones, then also comment.