One evening, Ganesha had eaten an enormous feast — laddoos, modaks, bananas, sweets of every kind. His belly full, he set off on his little mouse (his vahana), but suddenly stumbled. His pot belly jiggled and out rolled the sweets.

From the sky, the moon god Chandra saw this and laughed — mockingly. He couldn’t help it. Ganesha, with his round belly, small mouse, and wobbling gait, looked funny to him.

But Ganesha, embarrassed and hurt, cursed the moon:“From this day forth, you shall lose your light — no one shall look at you without consequence.”

The world fell into chaos. No moon meant no tides, no rhythm, no peace at night. Gods and sages begged Ganesha to forgive Chandra. Eventually, he softened the curse:“The moon will wax and wane — fading and returning. But anyone who mocks or wrongly judges will face illusion.”

Thus, the phases of the moon were born — a cycle of humility and rebirth.