Preston Leader
THORNBURY, AUSTRALIA, September 15, 2004: When Thornbury puppet maker Ken Evans agreed to make a three-foot clay statue of the Indian Deity Ganesh, he gave little thought to the wise insights that would come his way. The elephant-headed Hindu God is said to bring wisdom and success and remove obstacles. “Ganesh has been a recurring image of my life; it’s been a real treat,” Mr. Evans said. “He’s such a comical figure and he’s growing in the studio. But he is growing in character, he’s quite lovable, I want to pick him up and cuddle him. The odd thing is that about a month ago my daughter made a pottery Ganesh and said ‘what do you think of this?’ ” he said.
But unlike other statues of Ganesh, Mr. Evans said the one he was creating was not permanent. The statue is expected to quickly dissolve after being cast into Bundoora Park lake on Sunday as part of the annual Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The festival, being held in Darebin for the first time, commemorates the birth of Ganesh to Siva and Parvati. Mr. Evans said he was interested in the commission because it took a different slant on what art and ritual was all about. “It’s quite interesting doing something for the good of doing it, or the joy of doing it, without that long-term recognition of seeing it every day,” he said. The statue is one of several to be part of a festival of Indian culture and religion, associated with the Darebin Music Feast.
On Saturday, Sivaganga Sahathevan and Bharatalaya Academy will present an exhibition and exposition of folk dance and instrumental items at the Darebin Arts and Entertainment Centre. The next day the Ganesh statues will be ceremonially dunked in Bundoora Park after a parade. Hindu priest Dr. Martand Joshi said he would carry out the prayers that accompanied the procession when worshippers said goodbye to the Ganesh figures.