by P Abigail Sadhana Rao
Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is a festival that marks the birth of Lord Ganesha. The history behind this festival dates back to the age of Maratha Ruler Shivaji, wherein he propagated the celebration of the festival to encourage nationalism among people. Later, the festival was revived by the Indian Nationalist leader Bal Gangadar Tilak and today, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated among the Hindu communities worldwide and is very popular in Maharashtra and other parts of western India. Mojarto brings you some of the best artworks on Lord Ganesha to embrace this festival of Joy.
Amidst the Festivities
Festival Market by Arun Mishra presents Lord Ganesha at the heart of a bustling, vividly imagined Indian festival. Seated prominently in the centre, Ganesha holds a lotus and a vessel of modaks, while his raised hand offers a gesture of blessing. Around him unfolds a lively marketplace filled with vendors, musicians, dancers, devotees and colourful displays of food and festive wares.
The sweeping Himalayan landscape in the background adds another layer to the composition, creating a striking contrast between the monumental deity and the energetic human world around him. Mishra’s richly detailed, almost tapestry-like treatment brings together multiple scenes within a single frame, using jewel-like blues, greens, reds and yellows to create a sense of abundance and celebration. The work captures Ganesh Chaturthi not simply as a devotional occasion, but as a vibrant social and cultural spectacle where faith, community, music and everyday life converge.
An Elephant as a Canvas of Tradition
A majestic Indian elephant takes centre stage in this vibrant composition, its expansive form transformed into a canvas for stories, figures and motifs drawn from India’s rich folk traditions. In this artwork by artist Bhaskar Lahiri brings together the visual language of Indian folk art and Kalighat painting, with bold outlines, vivid blocks of colour and intricate decorative patterns. The elephant’s body is populated with scenes of cultural life, creating a sense of movement and celebration within its monumental form.
Deep blacks contrast with vivid reds, blues, yellows and orange, giving the work a distinctly graphic and theatrical quality. With the elephant itself evoking associations of Ganesha, auspiciousness and strength, Lahiri’s work becomes a celebration of India’s artistic heritage, where storytelling, symbolism and craftsmanship come together on a single, living canvas.
The Tenderness of Divine Motherhood
A graceful scene of motherhood unfolds between Goddess Parvati and child Ganesha, capturing a moment of intimacy and divine affection. Mother and Child by Subrata Ghosh portrays the elephant-headed deity in his childhood, nestled in the loving embrace of his mother, with the pair surrounded by lotus blossoms and graceful swans.
The serene composition shifts the focus from Ganesha’s familiar divine attributes to the deeply human tenderness of the mother-child bond.
Ghosh’s use of warm ochres, golds and earthy reds creates a gentle, luminous atmosphere, while the flowing lines and richly textured surfaces lend the work a dreamlike quality. Rendered as an original mixed-media work on canvas, the painting brings together love, nurture and divinity, offering a more intimate portrayal of Ganesha through the enduring symbolism of a mother’s embrace.
An Embodiment of Auspiciousness
Lord Ganesha appears in a meditative, frontal form, seated against an intricately patterned backdrop that echoes the ornamental richness of traditional Indian design. In Vinayaka by Shweta Rukme, the deity is rendered in warm metallic tones, with elaborate detailing across his crown, ornaments and garments. His raised hands convey familiar gestures of blessing and reassurance, while the finely patterned surface surrounding him creates an almost temple-like setting.
Executed in acrylic on canvas, Rukme’s careful layering of line, texture and muted earth tones gives the work a sculptural quality, making Ganesha appear almost carved into an ancient architectural panel. The title Vinayaka, one of Ganesha’s revered names, refers to the remover of obstacles and a guide towards auspicious beginnings. Through its intricate craftsmanship and contemplative presence, the artwork evokes the enduring reverence associated with the deity.
The Joy of Ganesha’s Arrival
A lively group of musicians gathers around Lord Ganesha, creating a scene filled with music, movement and anticipation. In Ganpati’s Arrival by Dnyaneshwar Bembade, the deity is carried amidst a cheerful procession of performers playing traditional instruments, their animated expressions and colourful clothing adding to the festive energy.
The bright green background and vivid reds, oranges, blues and purples give the composition a playful, celebratory character, while the stylised figures and expressive eyes lend the work a distinctly folk-inspired quality. Lord Ganesha’s presence at the centre reflects his significance as the harbinger of prosperity and remover of obstacles, while the surrounding musicians evoke the communal spirit with which Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated. The artwork captures the festival as a moment of collective joy, where devotion moves through the streets accompanied by music, colour and celebration.
A Portrait of Prosperity and Grace
Lord Ganesha appears in a serene, richly detailed portrait, holding a lotus in one hand and an offering of round sweets in the other, while his mooshak rests beside him. Lord Ganesh by artist Pallavi Rastogi brings together vivid colour and intricate ornamental detailing to create an image that feels both devotional and contemporary. The deity’s orange-hued form is framed by delicate jewellery, patterned garments and floral embellishments, while the lotus introduces a familiar symbol of purity and spiritual awakening.
Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati, is traditionally worshipped at the beginning of new ventures and is revered as the god of wisdom, success and good fortune. Rastogi’s vibrant palette and finely rendered details lend the work a sense of calm and positivity, transforming the familiar image of Ganesha into a celebration of auspiciousness, beauty and devotion.
A Sacred Landscape of Devotion
An elegant, stylised elephant figure takes centre stage, its body and flowing form enriched with intricate patterns, vibrant colours and peacock-feather motifs. In Venerate by Arvind Kumar Dube, this symbolic homage to Ganesha is placed within a richly imagined landscape of Varanasi, where the sacred architecture of its temples meets the timeless flow of the Ganga.
Boats move across the river while ghats and temple spires rise against the warm, glowing horizon, creating a sense of spiritual continuity. Lotus blossoms scattered across the foreground reinforce the work’s associations with purity and renewal, while the elephant form serves as an evocative reference to Ganesha.
Painted in acrylic on canvas, Dube’s intricate linework and luminous palette bring together nature, devotion and place in a harmonious composition. The artwork becomes a visual meditation on reverence, connecting the divine presence of Ganesha with the enduring spiritual landscape of Varanasi.
Bring the Spirit of Ganesha Home
Celebrate the beauty, devotion and artistry of Ganesh Chaturthi with a work that speaks to the heart. Explore evocative Ganesha artworks on Mojarto and discover a piece that brings colour, culture and divine grace into your space