Why a Man from North Karnataka Has Preserved His Ganesh Idol for a Decade
Why a Man from North karnataka Has Preserved His Ganesh Idol for a Decade
As ganesh chaturthi approaches, indians prepare to welcome Lord Ganesha, also known as Vinayaka or Ganapati, into their homes. This festival celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, revered as the remover of obstacles and the giver of good fortune, wisdom, and success. This year, ganesh chaturthi will begin on september 7, 2024.
In Siddapur taluk of North karnataka, Kanchaguli Bhagwat's household features a unique Ganesh idol that has not been immersed in water for over a decade. This Yaksha Ganapati idol was crafted by Chinmaya Bhagwat, who created it during his first year of PUC studies. Now an engineer based in America, Chinmaya’s idol has become a symbol of deep personal and familial significance.
Interestingly, the Bhagwat family did not have a tradition of placing Ganesh idols in their home. In the Siddapur-Sagar region, Lord Gowri is more commonly celebrated, with the Gowri Habba festival holding considerable importance. In villages like Kanchaguli, it’s not unusual to find multiple Gowri idols in many households.
Despite this, the Bhagwat family has embraced their Ganesh idol with devotion. In local tradition, it is believed that keeping a worshipped Ganesh idol at home can protect against woolly worms, and some families choose to retain the idol for over a year before immersing it.
Shankar Bhagwat, a family member, has preserved this Ganesh idol for ten years due to his emotional attachment to the artifact, a creation of his son. While the typical practice involves keeping a Ganesh idol until Ashtami or Ananta Chaturdashi and sometimes for an additional year, the Bhagwat family’s decision to keep the idol for a decade is highly unusual.
What makes this preservation special is that shankar Bhagwat’s choice is driven by deep emotional significance rather than societal expectations or norms. His decision reflects a profound personal connection to his son’s artistic work, highlighting the unique bond between family and tradition.