Gaṇeśa is not Necessary (05/25/13)
No, Gaṇeśa doesn’t belong on the altar. Altars are set up according to the paramparā system. Gaṇeśa is there in the greater picture as a devotee of Narasiṁhadeva, as a Demigod (the Lord of auspicious beginnings for students,etc.) and the remover of obstacles for devotees, but his image for more than a thousand years has not been necessary on our altars.
Better to do your program and altar traditionally in the line (paramparā) of Mahāprabhu and not get over-creative or speculative.