INDIA: 25 FOOT IDOL OF HINDU GOD GANESHA TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN FESTIVAL IN INDIA'S WESTERN BOMBAY CITY
Record ID:
1376944
INDIA: 25 FOOT IDOL OF HINDU GOD GANESHA TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN FESTIVAL IN INDIA'S WESTERN BOMBAY CITY
- Title: INDIA: 25 FOOT IDOL OF HINDU GOD GANESHA TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN FESTIVAL IN INDIA'S WESTERN BOMBAY CITY
- Date: 30th August 2003
- Summary: (L!1)BOMBAY, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (AUGUST 30, 2003) (ANI) THE STONES-STUDDED 25-FEET-HIGH IDOL OF HINDU ELEPHANT-HEADED GOD, GANESHA MORE OF THE IDOL THE IDOL WITH A FLUTE IN HAND THE IDOL BEING CARRIED ON A MOVABLE PEDESTAL MORE OF THE IDOL PEOPLE CARRYING THE IDOL AMIDST CHANTS OF LORD GANESHA'S NAME MORE OF THE IDOL (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NATHURAM, AN ARTISAN, SAYING "This year we have made this 25-feet- high idol studded with stones. Everyone makes idols during the festival but ours are different. Earlier we made it with American diamonds, German silver, glass. And last year, we made a idol using 125,000 pearls. So each year it is different." ARTISANS MAKING IDOLS OF LORD GANESHA AN ARTISAN WORKING ON AN IDOL MORE OF THE IDOL-MAKING VARIOUS OF ARTISANS PAINTING IDOLS OF GANESHA A WOMAN PAINTING A GANESHA IDOL A WOMAN ARTISAN VARIOUS OF AN ARTISAN PAINTING VARIOUS OF IDOLS OF LORD GANESHA
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 22:15
- Keywords:
- Location: BOMBAY, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVASVYWUM48TPELR5CKGLIJUMI1
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: A 25-feet idol of Hindu god Ganesha is taking pride of place in a festival in India's western Bombay city.
An innovative idol of elephant-headed god Ganesha is vying for attention in India's western Bombay city.
The 25-feet-high idol is called the Navratan (nine stones) Ganpati as it is studded with nine precious stones like diamonds, rubies, pearls, blue sapphires and emeralds.
The artisans have given the unique idol a look of Hindu god Krishna playing a flute and placed it on a 5-feet-high pedestal.
Traditionally, the idols are made of clay or plaster of paris.
However, unlike other gods where innovations in the image is considered sacrilegious, Ganesha, god of good luck and prosperity, can be depicted in any way.
"This year we have made this 25-feet- high idol studded with stones. Everyone makes idols during the festival but ours are different. Earlier we made it with American diamonds, German silver, glass. And last year, we made an idol using 125,000 pearls. So each year it is different."
Nathuram, an artisan, said on Saturday (August 30).
Elaborately ornamented idols are commissioned by different mandals (religious organisations) which compete with each other to attract maximum number of devotees.
Idols of Ganesha are made in different materials costing up to 100,000 rupees ($2,200).
During the ten-day festival, Ganesha (elephant-headed Hindu god) idols graced Hindu households all over the country.
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birthday of god Ganesha, easily one of the best-loved gods in the Hindu pantheon.
For years, Ganesh Chaturthi was a personal or private affair, celebrated within homes.
In the early 20th century, reformist and freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularised the festival marking the revival and virtues of Hinduism against the then British rulers. Legend has it that Hindu Goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva, the Lord of Destruction, had created Ganesha from a perfumed putty- like substance.
Later Shiva unknowingly beheaded the young.
When he realised that the boy was Parvati's creation, Shiva brought him back to life, by slaying an elephant and giving him the animal's head. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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