Ganesh Chaturthi is an occasion or a day on which Lord Ganesha or Lord Ganapati graces earth for the well being of all his/her devotees. This festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, commencing on the Shukla Chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). 
It is celebrated all over India, but it's festivities are at its most elaborate in Maharashtra, and the other parts of Western India.Legend says that once Lord Shiva left his usual dwelling on Mount.Kailash in the Himalayas, to meditate.
Two sakhis ( friends) of Goddess Parvati, his consort, suggested that she should have a 'Gana' - attendant of their own, since they were not too happy with Lord Shiva's 'Ganas'. Goddess Parvati agreed. Soon after, using her divine powers, she created a son out of the sandalwood paste she used for her bath by breathing life in to him and naming him Vinayak. She instructed him to guard their home.
Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. However, while Goddess Parvati was taking her bath, Lord Shiva happened to come there back from his meditation, and as Ganesha didn't knew who he was, he didn't allowed him to enter the house. As a result, there was a lot of bickering and Lord Shiva got angry and beheaded Ganesha ( Vinayak) with his 'Trishul' (Trident).
When Goddess Parvati heard of this she was distressed and lamented intensely. After Lord Shiva realized his error, to set things right he sent his Ganas to the forest to fetch the head of the first living being they met.
The Ganas saw a baby elephant and returned with its head. With his divine power, Lord Shiva placed the head over his son's body and that instant Vinayak sprung back to life. Henceforth Vinayak also earned the name of Gajaanan.
'Gaja' means elephant. Lord Shiva blessed him with a boon that people would first worship and offer him dedication in all their auspicious activities. Those who won't would not attain success.
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