Ganesha is a deity who has been celebrated for centuries, with the 5th century CE marking the widespread growth of his image and story. Since then, the deity’s presence has continued to grow and remains prominent in modern culture. His stories, teachings, image, and more are prominent across diverse art forms ranging from song and dance to literature and film. Ganesha’s iconography and symbolism have even carried through to games and gambling, demonstrating that there are no bounds to what he can inspire and influence.
From devotionals and classical music to modern digital interpretations, read along as we explore the influence of Ganesha across the arts.
Ganesha in Devotional and Classical Music
Ancient Bhajans and Hymns
As the remover of obstacles and due to his association with protection and luck, Ganesha has long been prayed to at the start of a new chapter or journey. The god’s blessings are invoked through recitations of his many names, bhajans (devotional songs), and hymns. These grew from chants and recited poetry that would help the devotee find success, wisdom, and abundance.
Most of the bhajans and hymns composed to invoke Ganesha were passed down orally from priests and scholars, who would preserve and pass on their knowledge over generations. These hymns, like the “Vakratunda Mahakaya, ” are recited across the country to seek out the god’s blessing and have been central to bhakti tradition in temples and community gatherings since the 7th century.
Modern Bhajans and Festival Songs
As technology developed, bhajans and hymns began being recorded, allowing them to reach broader audiences and carry on the spiritual practice of worshipping Ganesha through music. Many famous musicians have created their own devotional songs dedicated to Ganesha, keeping the tradition relevant and accessible. These modernised bhajans stay true to the meaning of ancient bhajans but fuse them with elements of new music genres.
During the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, the modern bhajans become part of the festivities. Thanks to the variety of music available, people are able to choose devotionals that align with the celebration and complement their music preferences. That said, there are a few songs that are popular in Hindi and Marathi, including “Ganpati Bappa Morya, ” “Sindoor Lal Chadayo, ” and “Mourya Re.”
Ganesha in Dance Traditions
Classical Dance Invocations
Alongside the bajhans used to invoke the blessings of Ganesha, dances are also used. Dances choreographed to embody the essence and imagery of Ganesha include Bharatanatyam and Odissi performances. The movements symbolise the deity, and the overall performance tells his story with musical accompaniment. Both traditional dances begin with Ganesha Vandana, an opening piece invoking the deity.
Bharatanatyam is known for its strong rhythmic movements and hand gestures, or mudras. Mudras convey the stories of Ganesha with specific movements, allowing for intricate narratives to be explored through dance. Odissi is known for being more fluid and sculptural in style, relying on three key areas of the body to create a curvilinear, flowing movement: the knees, torso, and neck.
Folk and Festival Dances
Dance performances aren’t limited to theatres and stages; in cities like Maharashtra and Mumbai, festivals bring street performances to the forefront of celebrations. In these performances, traditional dances are featured prominently with strong drumbeats and rhythms, all in celebration of Ganesha. Like the classical dance invocations, these festival performances begin with Ganesha Vandana to set a spiritual tone for festivities, remove obstacles, and bring about success for the occasion. This invocation of Ganesha also happens at festivities where bhangra dancing takes place, including weddings and harvest celebrations.
Ganesha in Indian Cinema
Bollywood’s Grand Ganesh Chaturthi Scenes
While Ganesha’s influence on dance and music is undeniable, his presence is most prominent in film. In this art form, Ganesha appears as a key character whose symbols and lessons become prominent elements and themes both visually and narratively. In some films, Ganesha is a guiding character who helps the film’s protagonist overcome a challenge and find success. In others, he’s prayed to or one of his well-known symbols—like an elephant head, broken tusk, or mouse—appears at pivotal moments on the screen.
Several Bollywood films feature Ganesha prominently, often in a scene centred on the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi. This occurs to such an extent that many of these scenes are compared and contrasted, with lists highlighting the best Ganesh Chaturthi scenes published ahead of the annual celebration. Often included in these lists are celebratory scenes from Agneepath, Don, and Any Body Can Dance (ABCD).
Regional Cinema Depictions
Beyond Bollywood, regional films from Maharashtra and Southern India also feature the deity, creating films that resonate with audiences in these regions while also celebrating Ganesha. In Marathi cinema, popular films include Lokmanya, Ek Yugpurush, which explores the influence of Ganesha on public festivities that celebrate India’s independence, and the films Gharat Ganpati and Ventilator, both of which are set during Ganesh Chaturthi and uniquely explore personal relationships and the complexity of emotions like love.
Like Marathi cinema, Tamil and Telugu cinema also delve into Ganesha celebrations, with many regional favourites drawing attention to festivities like Ganesh Chaturthi. The 1957 Vinayaka Chaviti is a classic film that continues to captivate audiences and remain highly regarded. The movie follows the story of Lord Ganesha from the time he was born. Celebrities and filmmakers in these regions are active participants in Ganesha festivities, many seeking out opportunities to show their connection to the god.
Ganesha Fortune: A Modern Digital Interpretation
As technology has evolved, art has evolved alongside it, meaning that today it’s not just traditional forms of entertainment that depict the symbolism and story of Ganesha. His image can even be found in video games and online gambling. A prime example of this is slot games that depict symbols relating to prosperity, blessings, and luck.
These games use symbols like ceremonial cows, elephant heads, tusks, sweets, flowers, and spices and build them into gameplay. Incorporating these symbols makes the game enticing to players with a connection to Ganesha and builds on the general understanding and respect felt for him, which makes the gameplay more enriching. The Ganesha Fortune slot review highlights one of these games, emphasising the slot’s symbolic imagery that brings about the feelings of joy and excitement often felt during Ganesh Chaturthi. The best-known symbols lead to the highest rewards in games like Ganesha Fortune, creating a familiar hierarchy for players and showing the ongoing influence of Ganesha’s story and power.
The unexpected connection of Ganesha with the iGaming industry illustrates the continuing influence of the deity. It shows how different elements of his story are relevant not just in traditional settings and celebrations, but also in modern technology and entertainment. There are many reasons for this ongoing influence and why Ganesha remains relevant across myriad art forms.
Why Ganesha Resonates Across Art Forms
The Symbol of New Beginnings
As a symbol of new beginnings, luck, and prosperity, Ganesha always remains relevant, as these are things people consistently experience and seek out—whether in art, entertainment, or their personal lives. By representing and symbolising these things, traditional stories and iconography can be drawn upon and modernised, allowing them to stand the test of time. As the remover of obstacles, Ganesha becomes a source of blessings and support for individuals in new endeavours, making him a beloved figure.
A Universal Figure of Joy
Ganesha is a playful and endearing character that inspires artists and captivates audiences, making him a presence with lasting appeal. He serves as a bridge between spirituality and artistic expression, bridging traditional and contemporary audiences. Ganesha’s character helps create universal appeal for many different forms of creative expression. Since the 5th century, when his image became widespread, to being featured in both traditional and modern forms of artistic expression today, Ganesha’s enduring presence has left a profound impact.