Ganesha is a Hindu god who is widely worshipped throughout India and beyond, including by Jains and Buddhists. He is known as the Lord of Obstacles, both of a material and spiritual order, and is popularly worshipped as the remover of obstacles. Ganesha is the son of Parvati and Shiva of the Shaivism tradition, but he is a pan-Hindu god found in its various traditions. He is also known as the guardian of esoteric knowledge and is considered the presiding deity of astrology. Ganesha is usually depicted with an elephant head, pot-bellied, and with four arms that often hold a noose called a pasam, an elephant goad, and a pot of rice, or his favorite sweets, laddus. His characteristic pot belly is usually bound around with a cobra, an animal usually associated with his father, Shiva. Ganesha is often displayed playing a musical instrument and is celebrated every year with a 10-day festival called Ganesha Chaturthi, in honor of his birthday.