Lord Ganesha is an adorable God of the Hindu mythology. Almost all Hindu religious ceremonies begin with Ganesh Bandana : Om Sree Ganeshaya Nama. After Ganesh bandana priest performs rituals and pujas.
Ganesha is a god of success, prosperity and happiness. A Hindu shop, business or a trading centre must have an idol of Ganesha which is daily worshipped. Khero Khata, a red cloth bound account book must bear in its first page a mark of Ganesha symbol, a prayer of Ganesha inscribed on the front page of the account book in a symbolic manner. In average Hindu houses, an image of Ganesha-idol, icon, at least a calendar bearing Ganesha image is a common sight. There are some exceptions no doubt.
Many big business houses display in the entrance hall a replica of Ganesha, often a full figure Ganesha by an eminent sculptor or artists like Jamini, Roy, Hussain, Bikash Bhattacharya, Ganesh Pyne and many other illustrious painters of India.
Dancers and singers of Indian classical dance and music begin with Ganesh bandana – prayer of Ganesha and then the artist performs the final recitals. In literature or in drama performance Ganesha is always remembered for the final success. Lord Ganesha is also considered in Hindu mythology a patron of literature, art and culture.
Ganesha, literally the lord of Ganas (people) is the most universally adored of all the Brahmanical Gods, and his images are found in practically every part of India. The popularity of this deity is extended to Nepal, Bangladesh, Java, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and his worship was not unknown in Tibet, Myanmar, China, Japan, Afghanistan, even in parts of Central Asia. The God has been conceived as Vighneswara, the lord of overcoming obstacles, Vighnantaka, the remover of calamities, Siddhidata, the bestower of success and the divine scribe which gained him the reputation as patron of letters.
The great Shaivite cave temple of Elephanta, near Mumbai dates back between 635 century A.D to eighth century A.D. The main panel of stone carvings representing Shiva as the lord of Dancers, is much better preserved. Above him is a very well preserved image of the elephant-headed Ganesha too. This figure of Ganesha is unique in all respect, it has a dancing posture and an axe in its right hand.
In Bengal and in the eastern part of India, Durga Puja is a popular community festival in autumn season. Maharashtra celebrates Ganesha Chaturthi/Ganapati Puja in the month of Bhadra/September, a popular festival with much fanfare along with popular games etc. Ganapati Bapa in Maharashtra, chanted by thousand of devotees during immersions of the idols in unending processions in the rainy season, attracts lakhs of spectators. Mumbai city’s Juhu beach along witnesses nearly six thousand Ganapati image immersion. Other sea beaches and rivers of Maharashtra having immersions of Ganapati images in different sizes, shapes, in different types of figures, all are artistically crafted and designed. Ganesha Chaturthi, Ganapati Puja as a community worship, a mass festival was introduced in Maharashtra by Lok Manya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the first decade of the twentieth century. Ganapati puja festival attracts tourists from abroad and other states of India.
Businessmen, at large, generally has a special fascination for Ganesha, because he is a god of success and prosperity. But people in the field of art, culture and letters too worship Lord Ganesha as the siddhidata (giver of success). In dian craftsmen have produced idols, icons or images of Ganesha in different shapes for the last several centuries. India’s ethnical tribal art and crafts are considered to be primitive, for example Dokra or Dhokra art. Mainly brass metal art objects, figure of mythological personage, animal, brids crafts are made in dariapur village (Bankura district), Medinipore in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Dokra craftsmen create wonderful Ganesh along with other mythological gods-goddesses and animal figures.
Terracotta Ganesha figures were found through archaeological excavation in many parts of India. Temples in Bengal have a large collection of terracotta Ganesha in the districts of Howrah, Hooghly, Burdwan, Birbhum and Bankura. Bishnupur in Bankura district is famous for terracotta horse, other animal figures along with the terracotta Ganesha. These terracotta horses and Ganesha are displayed as an art object in many drawing rooms of urban cities in our country. Terracotta horses and Ganeshas are export items. These terracotta items are usually produced by adivashis and jother rural artisans of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
South Indian woodcraft artisans present Ganesha in different moods and in shapes. Sandalwood Ganesha figure are crafted by traditional artisans of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for several centuries from now. Ivory works on Ganesha and elephant executed by fine craftsmen of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala are collectors – item all over the world. Antique dealers all over the world will vouchsafe popularity of ivory works of Ganesha.
Some wooden figures of Ganesha are found in Orissa. Orissa’s soft stone and hard stone Ganeshas are crafted by local artisans around Puri temple as well as around Bhubneswar and Cuttack. For the last one decade Ganesha painting, drawing or sculpture have invaded most art galleries of Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta and Delhi. Several celebrated artists all over the country are now engaged in drawing, paintings and sculpturing Ganesha. They are generally commissioned by art gallery owners to produce more Ganesha in canvas, sculpture on stone or wood. Even terracotta and brass ganeshas have become a collector’s item.
Indian Museum of Calcutta has some wonderful collection of Ganesha at its archaeological gallery; it has two large size Ganesha statue from Java (Indonesia) dated eighth or ninth century A.D. besides two stone figures from Bihar, i.e. Chaturmukha Linga – eleventh century A.D. (2) Ganesha – eleventh century A.D. Yet another peculiar figure of Ganesha is a part of stone slab sculpture dated twelfth century A.D. (from Halebidu, Karnataka). Two south Indian bronze Ganeshas are displayed prominently in the same gallelry.
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