It is Ganeshotsav or Ganpati time in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra and . And depending on how one looks at it, this is a time for holidays, modaks, new beginnings, traffic jams, crowded market places, laddoos, discounts, devotion… For me, it is an explosion of creativity.
From the time Bal Gangadhar Tilak turned the annual family level Ganeshotsav to a community level event in 1893, Lord Ganesha became everyone’s favourite deity. This also meant that, over the decades, the Ganpati idols got more creative with each passing year and the Ganesh pandals became opportunities to highlight social issues, or creative talent in presenting Ganeshas made from ice, different types of grasses or cereals, vegetables, fruits, papier-mache, etc.
It is not just Ganpati Pandals that get creative; shopping malls and departmental stores get into the act too. It was at a well-known departmental store that I saw one of the most unusual and creative Ganpati idols last year.
This Cadbury Gems encrusted Ganpati idol was absolutely eye-catching and the vivid colours just drew the crowds like a magnet. What I liked most about the idol was the idea, of course, the colours chosen, and the eye for detail. Do notice how the gems follow the drape of the dhoti in the 3rd photograph and the mouse with the very realistic looking laddoo.
In fact, so realistic was the laddoo that I was witness to a couple of tantrums by kids who wanted to take the mouse and laddoo home. I didn’t envy the parents one bit 😀
I am yet to go Ganpati Pandal hopping this year and can’t wait to see what is on display this year in Mumbai:-)
Have you seen similar creative depictions of Ganesh idols? I would love to hear more about them.
Mumbai Lens is a photographic series which, as the name suggests, is Mumbai-centric and is an attempt to capture the various moods of the city through my camera lens. You can read more of the posts here.
My Favourite Things 
Reminds me of Cadbury Gems’ ad…
LikeLike
Come to think of it, this is an ad itself for Cadbury Gems, isn’t it ?
LikeLike
The Gems Ganpati sure is very creative. Very pretty and colourful! Thanks for sharing this with us, Sudha! Would love to see creative Ganesha pictures from Mumbai from this year as well.
The pictures in your post reminded me of the Cadburys Gems ad, too. Blasphemy? 😀
I think Ganesha is one of the most versatile of gods as far his form is concerned, and people have moulded him into so many varieties – from a doctor to a computer operator! 🙂 I personally own a collection of Ganesha idols of different shapes and varieties. Should do a post on that some time. I admire the creativity of artisans who make such amazing creations and love collecting various Ganeshas as and when possible.
You might be interested in reading one of my old posts about a Ganesha hub in Ahmedabad: http://thegalnxtdoor.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/the-ganesha-hub-that-is-called-hollywood/
LikeLike
Yes, you should do a post on your Ganesha collection soon. Somehow, it is this versatility that has led to such creative depictions of this much loved God. Unfortunately, due to travel, I will not be able to go pandal hopping. But I did read that there was an idol that was made of different varieties of Chikki !
And i will read your post, once I am back in Mumbai.
LikeLike
nice. Hope plucking one GEMS won’t collapse whole idol
LikeLike
Thanks, Enidhi. I don’t think this idol would collapse, if one Gem was plucked out. It looked quite solid 🙂
LikeLike
This is super cute! I love it ❤ and tempting. I love the creativity people introduce in ganapati designs 🙂 🙂 also loved the disney entrance you shared on twitter 😀
Richa
LikeLike
This year, there was one made out of various types of chikki – coconut, til, groundnut. I didn’t see it, but read a lot about it. Will share pictures soon. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh you have to! I will wait for them 🙂
LikeLike
That’s a Yummy Ganpati. 🙂 His little vehicle also looks so cute.
So creative!!
LikeLike
I liked Ganpati’s vehicle the most, especiaaly the laddoo 🙂
LikeLike
This is such a beauty Ganpati and awe-inspiring. I am floored by its sheer beauty and magnificence. Thanks for sharing and Happy Ganesh Chaturthi. I am missing celebrations in Mumbai and Pune!
LikeLike
I love the creativity during Ganpati festival myself. This year, I missed out on one made entirely of pieces of chikki !
LikeLike
Slurrrrppppppp! sorry that Ganesha only made me very hungry 😦 Didnt have any spiritual feelings after looking at him made of gems 🙂
LikeLike
RM, Ganesha is the type of God who won’t mind. In fact, he’ll heartily approve, since he also loves food so much 😉
LikeLike
that is a lovely ganpati, Sudha! I remember seeing a choc covered Ganesha long back, when i was in school… havent seen any such creative idols recently. but i do have one question…. what is the basic idol made of? and what happens to the gems after the 10 days? is it possible to actually eat them up? or are they stuck and will be immersed at the end? if so, its rather a waste, isnt it? wish the makers also told us what they planned to do after the 10 days
LikeLike
Anu, this was an opportunity to advertise Cadbury Gems. This is what I think theidol was all about: a basic PoP idol was taken and encrusted with non-edible Gem like thingies. There is no way the real chocolate Gems could have withstood the heat of the lamps. The look alike Gems were probably made of plastic. As for what happened after 10 days of the festival is anyone’s guess – the pellets were removed and then the idol immersed. Or if the pellets were made of a soluble material, then the entire idol was immersed.
I did look around for someone to tell me about the idol, but there was no one there apart from the guard, who looked at me like I was from outer space when I asked these questions.
LikeLike
I could hear the Cadbury Gems ad jingle playing in my ears! I can imagine why the kids would throw a tantrum! 🙂
LikeLike
Welcome here Upasana, and thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. Psst… I wanted to throw a tantrum myself 😉
LikeLike
mam one how many gems have been added to make this ganeshji murti. its a amazing creativity
LikeLike
There was just too many Gems to count so can’t really say how many hundreds were there !
LikeLike
I love gems… Nice creativity…
LikeLike
I love Gems too, but not to eat them. I justlove the brilliant colours they come in.
LikeLike
The colours are absolutely gorgeous with such attention to detail. But like Anuradha above, I too am curious about what happens to the gems. Perhaps it is made of cake and the gems stuck to it. In which case, eating the idol would be a sacrilege. See, this is what happens when one stops seeing just the aesthetics of a work of art and begins thinking logically 😀
LikeLike
No matter what your line of thinking, I can confidently say that Ganpati would not have minded :-D. I think this was a PoP idol to which Gem like pellets were stuck on.
LikeLike
nice. Hope plucking one GEMS won’t collapse whole idol…
Good Looking Ganesha…
LikeLike
I don’t think the idol would have collapsed. As you can see, it is quite a solid looking one !
LikeLike
Oh what a cute Lord Ganesha!!
I hope the gems would be distributed as Prasadams Of Lord Ganapati
LikeLike
I don’t think these were real gems as they would have melted in the heat and glare of the lights trained on the Ganesha. These are definitely gems of the inedible kind.
LikeLike