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.

calendar art; popular religious art

Rat is the vehicle of Ganesh. Parrot is sacred to god Kamadeva (god of lust) and indicates good luck. Three horizontal bands (tripundra) of ash (vibhuti) are worn by worshippers of Shiva. One hand, on left, shows gesture of protection and fearlessness (abhaya hastam). Other hand, on left, holds mazhu, and one hand, on right, holds pasa, both insignia for Shiva. Other hand, on right, offers rice cake to rat. Ganesh often shown holding a jar of water in his trunk.

Rectangular calendar print depicting a frontal view of an elephant-headed, four-armed male, Ganesha, seated on a rock. A rat sits at his foot on right, parrot at elbow on left. Male holds objects, one in each of three out of four hands: a gold axe, noose and a white sweet. Palm of fourth hand outward facing and gesturing. Trunk curled around gold container. He wears red and gold cloth around his shoulders and a yellow dhoti. He is adorned with jeweled necklaces, floral garlands, jeweled gold crown, and three horizontal stripes and third eye on forehead. Background is a landscape of trees, water, and sky.