Question

constructed response unit 2: ganesha
ganesha is a hindu god who loves to dance. his name means \lord of the ganas\ (gah - nahz): small, mischievous dwarfs with round bellies who serve ganesha and his famous father, shiva (she - vah or shih - vah). shiva is one of the three great male gods of hinduism (hin - doo - ism). today, ganesha is worshipped widely by people of different faiths throughout india, southeast asia, and around the world. also called the lord of beginnings and the lord of obstacles, ganesha can create challenges; but even more, he can remove them or help people overcome them. people pray to ganesha to bring them good luck, especially when starting something - such as a journey, a business, a marriage, or a new year - or when facing something difficult, like taking an exam or performing a dance.
ganesha is also known both as the lord of the harvest and the lord of learning and the arts. his large elephants head symbolizes strength and wisdom. indian rulers used elephants to win wars, build palaces, and show off their wealth in royal ceremonies. ancient indian poets compared elephants spraying water from their trunks to rumbling rain clouds. people today value elephants for their cooperative nature. in the wild they live in family groups headed by fei calves are

1. why do hindus pray to ganesha? explain using evidence from the text to support your response.

you may use the following graphic organizer to help you fully respond:
an introductory sentence that explains who ganesha is:
a sentence that explains one reason people pray to ganesha.
cite evidence of why people pray to ganesha. (a quote from the text, crediting the author.)
a sentence that explains a different reason why people pray to ganesha.
cite evidence of why people pray to ganesha. (a quote from the text, crediting the author.)
a conclusion sentence that sums up your paragraph.

Explanation:

Hindus pray to Ganesha as he is called the Lord of Beginnings and the Lord of Obstacles. The text states, "Ganesha can create challenges; but even more, he can remove them or help people overcome them. People pray to Ganesha to bring them good luck, especially when starting something - such as a journey, a business, a marriage, or a new year - or when facing something difficult, like taking an exam or performing a dance." Also, he is known as the Lord of the Harvest and the Lord of Learning and the Arts. His elephant head symbolizes strength and wisdom.

Answer:

Hindus pray to Ganesha because he is the Lord of Beginnings and Obstacles (can remove challenges and bring good luck as in starting a journey, business etc. - text evidence: "Ganesha can create challenges...bring them good luck...when starting something...or facing something difficult"). Also, as Lord of Harvest, Learning and Arts (elephant head symbolizes strength and wisdom - implied by text about elephant's use in wars, building etc. and poets' comparison).