The Ganesha statues of Maharashtra








In many cultures, from all around the world, supernatural beings have always been the epicenter of people's cultures, and lives. These gods are great influences for those who believe them, while many have similar gods and others have different gods. Gods have always been a part of our culture and will continue to be so long as we keep believing in them. This god is one the most popular amongst all of the Hindu gods and is known as Ganesha, Ganesh, or Ganapati; the god of beginnings. 

Whom is worshiped by the Hindus; once every year many people gather to create statues of Ganesha for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai. Where these figures are made of clay and are shaped through silicone molds. After the clay has been pressed into shape, other details are added to bring the statues of Ganesha to life. Once these statues are sold they are placed in shrines, in homes, as well as public areas. To honor the god Ganesha, in which his name is defined as, lord of the people and lord of the Ganas; where Gana means common people. The Ganesh Chaturthi, festival lasts from about a day and a half, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, or even 11 days; depending on family traditions and how devoted a certain person is. Once they are finished worshiping, the statue is engulfed by a body of water, where it dissolves and retunes Ganesha to his divine home. 




Doniger, Wendy. “Ganesha,” May 8, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ganesha.


The British Museum, "The making and worship of Ganesha statues in Maharashtra," in Smarthistory, March 30,2020, accessed October 5, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/the-making-and-worship-of-ganesha-statues-in-maharashtra/. 


Comments

  1. Amanda GarrettOctober 8, 2020 at 9:19 PM

    I really like the piece of art you chose to talk about this week. It is visually appealing - colorful and beautiful. You did a good job explaining the role that this god played in Hinduism. Next time, you could include a little bit of information of Hindu beliefs so the audience can have an even better understanding for Hinduism.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CorinaOctober 9, 2020 at 12:41 PM

    This piece caught my attention right away by all the vibrant colors. It's interesting to learn about the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, but I agree with Amanda you should add a little more info on Hinduism.

    ReplyDelete

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