Calendar

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes. Ganesh ensures safety, gives wisdom, and ensures success in a new venture to the worshipper.

calendar art; popular religious art

Head of elephant, pot belly, hands clutching noose (pasha), axe (parashu), and rice cakes, are distinctive attributes of the Lord Ganesh, also known as Ganapati, Ganesa, Pulliar, and Lord of the Ganas (followers). He is son of Shiva and Parvati and worshipped as the remover of obstacles, and lord of wisdom, protection and guidance. Rice cakes symbolize an offering of a boon. Hand position indicates an offering of protection (abbaya mudra). Lotus symbolizes the moving universe. Rat is his vehicle and symbolizes a way of overcoming obstacles that the elephant cannot.

Rectangular calendar print depicting Ganesha, a four armed, potbellied man with an elephant head who is sitting on a pink, open lotus. Leg on right is crossed over lap resting on the knee of the opposite leg. He holds three objects, one in each hand: a gold axe, gold goad and white sweets. The fourth hand is facing up with palm showing. He wears a jeweled gold crown, a pink robe, yellow dhoti and seven gold jeweled necklaces. He is decorated with three white horizontal lines across his forehead with a single red circle under the lines. At the lower right corner, near his feet, there is a rat with a red circle on its forehead. Background consists of lotuses floating on water and a grey-coloured sky.