‘Love Ganesha’: 3500 Different types of Ganapathi Idols displayed at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
How would you like to see 3500 different types of Ganesha/Ganapathi idols at one place? Well, that’s exactly what the ‘Love Ganesha’/’Ganesh Darshan’ expo at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai shows you!
Consider this: All the 3500 Vinayaka idols were collected by a one person – Mr. M Murali, MD, Sri Krishna Sweets. Imagine how many years it would have taken to collect so many idols! It’s nice to see so many Vinayaka idols at a single place. It’s also nice to see the passion behind such an idea.
The exhibition was arranged like a Navarathri Golu, only in this case, all the objects were small Ganesha statues. Some of them were larger, many of them were little, some were made with brass, some were made with various metals, some were made with wax, some were made with wood, some were even made with news paper!
I have gone to a few musical concerts held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan before and I relish eating at the Mylai Karpagambal Mess right opposite to this school. Even today, I had one Paruppu Nei Poli and Keera Vadai. Double treat 🙂
All the Ganesh idols were kept in three steps across a large hall. As you can imagine, there were many statues and it was not possible to take individual photos. Obviously it’s not possible to click all the 3500 idols. So, I am presenting some group photos taken there. Enjoy 🙂
This exhibition is open to public from 17th to 21st September, 2012. That means, people in Chennai still have one more day to go there and see it.
Destination Infinity
Photos: Destination8Infinity. All the photos are published under this creative commons license.
Enjoyed! Really interesting, D.I.!
Would love to enjoy keerai vadai and poli too! We had been to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for some concerts and arangetrams and then visited the mess! My husband’s favourite place!
That mess is my favorite place too, along with SVS Sangeetha hotel. I used to go to Sangeetha during afternoon for meals and I go to this mess during evenings. Once I traveled 14 KM from Ambattur to Mylapore just for having lunch! 🙂
Destination Infinity
I read about this exhibition in paper… glad that u made a visit. I have a friend in Flickr, who is passionate on collecting ganesha idols and he had crossed over 350 idols in collection.
Even I stopped believing on god exists, Vinayaka doesn’t stop fascinating me and he’s the only one to take various forms to adore. I have heard about Karpagambal Mess and its taste… must try sometime.
Wonderful captures from the exhibition!
I think this collection and the passion behind it is more to do with art than spirituality. I am not the collector, so I can only guess!
Destination Infinity
Beautiful! I love the motivation these collectors have.
My dentist in Mysore has so many little Ganesha idols and little idols of different God that I love going to his clinic for the wonderful way in which he has maintained the place and the superb arrangement.
Thanks for sharing the pictures! 🙂
Oh, he exhibits Ganesha idols in his clinic? Unique way of getting customers in 🙂
Destination Infinity
This is a museum visit of a different kind. Ganesha is one God with a form that lends itself to artists and so the innumerable ones of Him. It must be a treat to see so many forms under one roof. Collectors are of all kinds. My brother-in-law loves the form of Ganesha too and has them in every conceivable form, but not 3500 of them 🙂
I have heard about the canteens of the Music Academy from my MIL. this mess seems to be one such popular place 🙂
One advantage we have in certain places where music concerts are held is, we can get wonderful food from nearby! That’s why I love visiting places like Mylapore and T.Nagar 🙂
Destination Infinity
Ganesha in first pic is so cute !
The four of them? Yeah, they look good. That’s why I put that pic right at the top 🙂
Destination Infinity
Awesome is the word and so many of them … amazing
Yes, I got tired just trying to take pictures! Imagine how difficult it would have been to collect so many 🙂
Destination Infinity
what a collection! It seems someone is maintaining a museum.
Ha ha. A contemporary museum, indeed!
Destination Infinity
want to know where can i get different and unique ganesha idols in chennai. i know that the exhibition is over…. please suggest
You should get it in gifts/fancy stores no? Not sure… Also try searching in junglee.com
Destination Infinity
like the all people for god in devotional