An ongoing exhibition called “Ganesha: Lord of New Beginnings” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York traces the depiction of Lord Ganesha across painting, sculpture, photography and musical instruments.
Here we highlight 10 of the artworks presented
Today, we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, which is an auspicious day as it is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Ganesha is the patron of the arts and sciences and the lord of new beginnings. Hence, he is often invoked at the beginning of rituals, rites and ceremonies. Additionally, he also removes obstacles, brings good luck, and the stories surrounding him depict him as humorous.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has curated an exhibition of 24 depictions of Lord Ganesha called “Ganesha: Lord of New Beginnings.” It features artworks from Central, South and South East Asia, from the 7th to the 21st centuries. They range across various mediums such as painting, sculpture, photography, musical instruments and ritual objects. The third rotation of the exhibition called is currently ongoing until January 4th, 2026, with the first and second rotations having been exhibited from 2022 to 2024.
We have compiled 10 notable works from the total of 24 art works exhibited.
1. Ganesha Ritual Lamp
Nepal, Newar, 19th-20th century
“This lamp shows Ganesha standing behind his rat vehicle, holding an elephant goad and a bowl of sweets. The elaborate flowering foliage radiating from the god speaks to his importance as a bringer of abundance and prosperity.”
Medium: Copper alloy
2. Ganesha
China, Xinjiang, Pialma, 6th–7th century
“This architectural fragment is one of a small group of early Ganesha images found around the important Silk Road trading center of Khotan in Central Asia. Meeting the worshipper’s gaze with expressive human eyes, it is clear this is no mere elephant, but a god.
The presence of a Hindu deity in a mostly Buddhist kingdom reveals how the religion spread along trade routes. For travelers traversing the long and arduous Silk Road, how appropriate to pay homage to this remover of obstacles and bringer of wealth and abundance.”
Medium: Stucco
3. Standing Ganesha
Cambodia, second half 7th century
“In Southeast Asia, Ganesha, the Hindu deity who removes obstacles, has a more independent status than in India. His images were often housed in separate temples as primary icons of worship. Here, Ganesha is shown wearing a short wraparound skirt (sampot), the front end of which falls down the center in a series of flaring folds characteristic of the Prasat Andet style.”
Medium: Stone
4. Seated Ganesha
Thailand, ca. 15th century
“The distinctive crown, pleated wraparound skirt (sampot), and pedestal with a decorated molding all identify this sculpture as coming from Thailand. Keenly naturalistic, the god’s corpulent body has only two arms; his hands grasp his broken tusk and a damaged elephant goad, and his legs are drawn up in a yogic posture. His otherwise smooth body is set off by an anklet, serpent armbands, and a sacred thread in the form of a snake tied at the left shoulder.”
Medium: Bronze
5. Seated Four-Armed Ganesha
Indonesia, Java, 9th century
“This small early Javanese depiction of Ganesha is largely consistent with Indian prototypes. Seated on a diminutive lotus throne, the corpulent deity holds a bowl, broken tusk, goad, and what may be a cluster of prayer beads in his four hands; his matted hair is piled into a tall chignon.”
Medium: Bronze
6. Ganesha Leads Shiva and Durga in Procession
India, Western Rajasthan, 18th century
“The elephant-headed god Ganesha holds a goad and a bowl of sweets. Shiva, mounted on his bull, Nandi, catches the celestial Ganges river in his hair, which can be seen flowing in an arch to the ground from the top of his head. The goddess Durga carries a trident in one of her four arms, and rides her tiger mount. This colored drawing is possibly a fragment of a long scroll.”
Medium: Ink and Opaque Watercolor on Paper
7. Dancing Ganesha
Mongolia, 18th–19th century
“Like other Vajrayana deities, Ganesha in his wrathful manifestation dances within a ring of flames and holds ritual implements such as the skull bowl and vajra, along with weapons, ritual staff, fly whisk, and elephant goad. Smaller figures of Ganesha and Jambhala (God of Wealth) emphasize his association with good fortune and abundance. The black ground format—reserved for Buddhist protector figures—fits with Ganesha’s role as a remover of obstacles. This form of Ganesha was regarded as an emanation of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion who removes the obstacle of false perception.”
Medium: Opaque watercolor on paper
8. Tuvdun- Dancing Ganesha Surrounded by Subsidiary Manifestations
Mongolia, 18th–19th century
“This sketch served as a preliminary drawing for a thangka painting. It shows Ganesha in his wrathful manifestation, dancing and brandishing various tantric attributes in his twelve arms. He is accompanied by four subsidiary forms of Ganesha holding bowls of jewels, and lotus blossoms. Adopted from Hinduism into the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism, this form of Ganesha was popular in Tibet and was transmitted to Mongolia in the seventeenth century by the great teacher Zanabazar (1635–1723) along with a host of other Vajrayana deities. This work was drawn by Tuvdun at the Erden Zuo monastery, a major Buddhist center in Mongolia.”
Medium: Ink on Paper
9. Tambura
India, 19th century
The tambura or Tanpura is a stringed instrument which serves as a drone in Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions. Hence, given that Ganesha is the patron of the arts, it is only fitting that the centre of the front face of the Tambura contains an image of Ganesha. In this particular Tambura, Ganesha overlooks various other deities and moments from Hindu mythology, such as the climactic scene of Ramayana when Ram and Sita are reunited in Ayodhya, with Hanuman and Laxman also at their side. The back of the instrument also depicts Shiva, Brahma and Krishna standing with Radha, and multiples of Krishna dancing with the Gopis. Tamburas found in Vadodara, Gujarat also have a similar painting style, which consequently means that this Tambura may also be from that region.
10. Shiva and Parvati and Their Children Skanda and Ganesha
India, Punjab Hills, Kingdom of Mandi or Kangra, 1775-1800
“Shiva is shown sitting in the mountains of the Himalayas as an ascetic who has retreated from society. Still, he is surrounded by his family, including his wife, Parvati, who pours him a drink. Behind him, his multiarmed son Skanda gestures toward a peacock in a tree, which is his vehicle (vahana). Below sit a tiger and the bull Nandi, the vehicles of Parvati and Shiva, respectively. Placed in their midst is the elephant-headed figure of Ganesha, who serves as an intermediary between the viewer and Shiva. Rather than presenting Ganesha as an icon, this painting from the foothills of the Himalayas shows the god as part of a family narrative.”
Medium: Opaque watercolour on paper
Images and Descriptions Courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art
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