Ganesha and his myriad forms in Hubli-Dharwad

Ganesha and his myriad forms in Hubli-Dharwad
The Hindu

Episodes re-created from mythology to `Operation Footpath'

ENRAPTURING SHOW: The episode of a battle between Babhruvahana and Arjuna taken from Mahabharata is depicted at a pandal in Hubli.

HUBLI: Episodes from mythology and incidents from the recent past have been recreated to show Lord Ganesha in his myriad forms.

This is what attracts people from neighbouring cities, towns and villages to Hubli-Dharwad during the Ganesha festival, and this year was no exception.

After a slow start (as it usually takes two days for the technicians to complete the stage arrangements after the consecration of the Ganesha idol) the roads in Hubli-Dharwad are crowded particularly in the evenings owing to the increase in the number of visitors who have come to see Ganesha in different forms.

Hundreds of "pandals" have been erected by the Gajanan Mandals and each portrays Ganesha in a different form.

The episodes that have been recreated include: Ganesha becoming "Gajamukha", Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhan Giri to protect the gopalas and gopikas from the fury of rain gods, the battle between Babhruvahana and Arjuna, the test of saint Babaji, a devotee of Lord Balaji, Ravana's devotion to Shiva, Draupadi's "swayamwara", Satya Harishchandra beheading his wife Taramati... the list goes on.

Several Gajanan Mandals have taken pains to recreate something new.

While in Shilvantara Oni, the temple of Tirupati Timmappa has come up, in Myadar Oni there is life-sized replica of the rath of Sri Siddharoodha with the idol of Ganesha in the guise of Siddharoodha swamiji.

At Maratha Galli, the public have to go through a cave to have a darshan of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha in the guise of Chatrapati Shivaji, Sai Baba, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and various other deities can be seen across the twin cities.

Re-creations

And it is not just mythological events that have been recreated.

The recent "Operation Footpath" conducted by the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has become a part of the Ganesha festival. At Divate Galli in Hubli, the demolition of encroachments with the help of an earthmover has been played out with an idol of Ganesha holding a walky-talky and giving instructions.

The Circuit Bench of the High Court of Karnataka, for which the foundation stone was laid recently, is a part of the festival too.

The Gajanan Mandal at Yemmikeri in Dharwad has constructed a model of the circuit Bench of the High Court where one can find Ganesha as the presiding judge.

Though the donations for the public celebration of the festival have been low this time, owing to the recent "Operation Footpath", the Gajanan Mandals have managed to get funds for the arrangements.

During the demolition drive many encroachments were cleared because of which many a shopkeeper has to take up repair works.

As a result, some of them have cut their contribution.

The festival is being celebrated with much fanfare and, thanks to the good rain this year, villagers are actively taking part in the celebrations.