He has a namesake festival celebrated during the  Bhadrapada  month, which ends with the submersion of statues of this god.  
In one story, this god angered the rishi Gautam when he morphed into  a cow and ate his grain. The Puranas describe his cleverness in having  his parents sit nearby and his subsequent seven-fold circumambulation  of them. In art, one of the objects he carried was a whip, which  symbolized his dominion over fate. The posture of this god's face  symbolizes the (*) om.  He has a namesake festival celebrated during the  Bhadrapada  month, which ends with the submersion of statues of this god.  This man was able to defeat his brother who voyaged around the world  during a race. The Mahabharata  was dictated to this god, who is useful in  removing obstacles. For 10 points, name this elephant headed god.
In one story, this god angered the rishi Gautam when he morphed into  a cow and ate his grain.
Ganesh [or Ganesha]