Reddit mentions of The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha

I had to do some thinking, and I have two, because I'm usually bad at picking one of anything.

1) A story I heard about the Orishas Yemaya and Oshun and their travel to Cuba. I found a book on Google and typed up the relevant excerpt:

>Ochun, oricha of the river, love, and all things sweet found out that those who were sent to Cuba were lonely and sad so she decided to go there to dance, comfort, and keep them company. However, she worried about the long voyage from Africa to Cuba.

>Full of apprehension, she went to visit her sister Yemaya, oricha of the sea, and told her, “Yemaya, I have to cross the sea to go to Cuba and be with my children, but I am afraid of the long trip.” Yemaya comforted her, “Don't be afraid, Ochun, I will take care of you. I will take you to the bottom of the ocean and we will cross it without hazards.”

>Appeased, Ochun said “You have reassured me, but tell me Yemaya, you who reach all the way to Cuba and visit its shores and beaches, how is Cuba, and how are the Cubans?” Yemaya told Ochun, “Cuba is very much like Africa. There are many coconut and palm trees, it is never cold, and it has peaceful rivers and long tropical nights. However, all the Cubans are not black as the people here, some are white and others are mulattoes.”

>Ochun, still apprehensive, told Yemaya, I am worried since I am not used to people different from us. I would like you to grant me two wishes. As we make our way to Cuba, I want the waves of the ocean to straighten my hair just a little bit and its foams to lighten my skin just a little. Thus, when I arrive in Cuba I will neither be black nor white. I will be accepted by all Cubans, blacks, whites, and mulattoes. All of them will be my children.”

> With her queenly and maternal demeanor Yemaya granted Ochun her two wishes and this is why Cubans were graced with a mother who resembles them all.

2 ) A story about Ganesha and Kartikeya that I originally read as a retelling in the excellent "The Broken Tusk: Stories of the Hindu God Ganesha" by Uma Krishnaswami (The latter god is called Murugan in Krishnaswami's book, in the link to the story I give, he is called Kartikeya) In the story, Ganesha and Kartikeya fight over a mango and it is suggested that the two gods have a contest to win the mango. (In the linked story, it is the sage Narada who causes all this and suggests the contest, in Krishnaswami's book, Narada is not in it and Shiva, their father, suggested the contest.) Whoever circles the Universe first wins the mango. Kartikeya gets on his peacock and speeds away. Ganesha walks around his parents Shiva and Parvati, because to him, they are the Universe. :) Ganesha wins.

(Edited slightly to add that Ganesha wins the contest.)