Charming Ganeshas
PUSHPA CHARI
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The Ganesha Darshan exhibition is on till September 15.
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Superbly crafted: Ganesha in a reclining pose.
Imagine a tiny Ganesha, whose detailed intricacy can only be seen through a magnifying glass. D. K. Bharani, a national awardee, is one of the two craftpersons who practises the micro-mini sandalwood carving process. The one inch Ganesha in a chariot
(‘Chariot Ganesha’) is pulled by four (one-fourth inch) mushikas. The idol wears a miniscule red ‘namam’ and has a superbly decorated ‘chchatri’ cover. It has tiny floral motifs on his veshti and the rosewood base of his chariot has more than a lakh of hand-carved, sandalwood decorative pieces painstakingly stuck on it.
Rare pieces
This piece along with two equally superb micro-mini sandalwood Ganeshas form part of the Ganesha Darshan exhibition currently on view at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium. It brings together magnificent and rare specimens in wood, silver, brass and bronze. Classicism, folk idiom and touches of innovation and eclecticism make the exhibition collection truly exclusive.
If the six feet rosewood reclining Ganesha, superbly crafted by Kerala craftpersons, casts a spell, the painted whitewood pieces from Rajasthan charm with their soft colours and floral background. Karnataka’s rosewood Ganeshas have classical postures and antique finish, while Tamil Nadu’s plethora of painted Ganesha panels, wall hangings and the statues have a folk appeal.
The silver enamelled Ganeshas have been exquisitely crafted by the traditional jewellers of Rajasthan. Wearing enamel covering in deep blues and greens, these tiny, silver Ganeshas are ideal for puja items and decorative artefacts.
The Swamimalai ‘panchaloka bronzes’ are elegant. The bronze Ganeshas are in various poses: dancing, playing musical instruments, writing the Mahabharata with his tusk and so on. Craftspersons from Aligarh also have on display innovative, brass Ganeshas in different sizes and postures along with brass lamps.
The exhibition concludes on September 15 at Temple Towers, 672, Anna Salai, Nandanam.
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