Ganpati Bappa more yeah!


My mom has a grouse that am not creative with picking gifts. All I can do is pick up Ganesha idols. What she can’t understand is... what do you do when ¾ th of most novelty stores nowadays have Ganesha in various forms and substance.
Among all our Gods, Ganpati seems to be the one who has managed to find a relevant role in every generation. In the first quarter of this century, the tusker was used by Lokmanya Tilak to aggregate the masses around Mandals, which would also serve to foster unity and patriotic values. It seemed to work. Later on the mill workers of Mumbai used Ganesha as a show of strength and solidarity in the wake of capitalist pressures. Pandals spawned in every mill compound and the event became annualized. There also was much pomp and revelry around it. About 13 years ago, Ganesha shocked the hell out of everyone by drinking milk. Amul and Aarey did good business as the pot bellied God had his fill. This relaunched the age of miracles and was quite a paradox to the age of liberalization and rational thinking that was finding wings in India. In the last 10 years or so, Ganesha has spawned many a Ganeshas and many an avatar. You have Ganesha in all sizes, shapes, postures and moods adorning novelty stores. From dashboards, to office cubicles, to all wedding cards, you find Vighnaharta enjoying pride of place.

Ganesha seems to be the only God who lends himself to such malleability. His image is that of being playful, approachable and quite ‘user friendly’ vis-à-vis say his father Shiva who is the angry omnipresent man of mythology. It is almost like Ganpati is the only God who would take no offence at being molded into any shape of size.

Comments

Jay Choksi said…
Right on! And the remaining 1/4 is stuffed up with Feng Shui jingles and plants ... Whats tough to decide now a days is whether to gift Ganesh idols made in China or Chinese bamboos grown in Ganeshwati :-P
May 21, 2007 4:17 pm
Jay Choksi said…
Right on! And the remaining 1/4 shop is stuffed up with Feng Shui jingles and bamboo shoots! Whats tough to decide then is whether to gift Ganesh idols that are Made in China or Chinese bamboos grown somewhere in Ganeshwati :-P
May 21, 2007 4:21 pm
Ajith said…
well said Jay!
:)
May 21, 2007 9:16 pm
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