Ganesha is the elephant-deity riding a mouse. Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. Ganesha is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
Kartikeya, the second son of Lord Shiva. He is a brave leader of god's forces, and a war god, who was created to destroy the demons, representing the negative tendencies in human beings. Kartikeya carries on one hand a spear and his other hand is always blessing devotees. His vehicle is a peacock, a pious bird that grips with its feet a serpent, which symbolizes the ego and desires of people. The peacock represents the destroyer of harmful habits and the conqueror of sensual desires. The symbolism of Kartikeya thus points to the ways and means of reaching perfection in life.
*http://hinduism.about.com/od/godsgoddesses/p/kartikeya.htm *http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordganesha/a/ganesha.htm