Almighty Fashion

A new rockstar seems to have made reservations for the next few days across pandals, streets, hearts and homes! Lord Ganesha seems to have undergone a wardrobe makeover to become a fashion icon! While the festivity is celebrated piously, the faithful are going gaga over the prêt-à-porter and couture line for the Elephant-headed lord. From a plethora of dresses to a varied range of accessories, the Lord’s clothes-line market has gone through the roof.

Some rich folks plan to don the Lord with Swarovski crystal dhotis, handcrafted angavastram and gold bracelets. Others have gone the extra mile to make the Lord look cool in Gucci glares, sequined jackets, doctor’s uniforms and colourful Garba poshaks.

The fabrics range from linen, silk, and satin, to brocade. Each fabric is intricately embroidered with gold and silver threadwork, giving it a ‘regal’ and ‘real’ touch. The colours that breathe life into the deity often differ from shades of yellow, green, blue and red each symbolising purity, prosperity, happiness and a lot more!

Jyoti Gurung, founder of Shringar Dil Se says that people today prefer Kachani — small skirts along with dhotis. Jyoti shares how these fabrics can range from Rs 50,000 onwards. She opines that people are paying attention to clothing worn by deities. She asks, “If we have big fashion designers design clothes for us, why can’t we design these for idols as a form of our reverence?”

Designer Clothes

While clothes form part of the deity’s look, there are ‘dress designers’ specifically hired and approached by people who want a splash of reality reflecting from the idols that come to adorn their homes.

Samir K Sheth, a clothes designer for Gods & Goddesses from Ahmedabad opines that when an idol is clothed appropriately, it helps make the idol look more real and relatable to devotees. “Many times, people tell me that the clothes seem so real, that it feels like the idol would soon come to life and walk,” he says.

With designer clothes, many devotees feel a deepened sense of awe and connection with the deity. Samir says that these dresses don’t take long to stitch, perhaps a day or two at the most! However, due diligence is given to the requirements put forth by people in terms of choice of colour, fabric, ornaments and so on.

Casual Blast

Depending on the region, the style of these idols too, can vary. For instance, in Maharashtra, the idols often have a distinct traditional look with a lot more jewelry. Other parts of India, may incorporate local, cultural attributes and traditional crafting styles. The recent trend includes ‘casual’ and ‘relaxed’ clothing for Ganesha idols. So don’t be surprised to spot a Ganesha idol sporting a T-shirt and comfy shorts.

Fashion Fusion

This trend reflects the current happenings across the country, from sporting events to major achievements at large. Not just that, fashion fusion is yet another theme explored. One may even come across a Ganesha clad in a traditional dhoti paired with a stylish jacket or a modern kurta with trendy prints!

Lakshman Kabadi, a fine artist from Bengaluru says, “There are customized variants across states, from Maharashtra to Karnataka, they all have a different look and feel.”

He opines that the idols in Maharashtra are much more decorative as compared to the ones in the south, which have a soft yet appealing feel. With a slight laugh he says, “People want something new in idols every year.” Lakshman says that people in the south, specifically Bengaluru, prefer a ‘right-sided’ trunk as compared to a left-sided trunk preferred in Maharashtra. This differs from each state based on the belief system there.

People are not limiting Lord Ganesha to kurtas and jeans, many are exploring themes from superhero movies, and fantasy characters. So don’t be flustered to see a quirky Ganesha idol with stylish dark goggles looking your way. It isn’t just the casualness of the T-shirts or elaborate garba outfits, but the closeness and dynamism one resonates with Ganpati Bappa. A yearning to feel closer to the deity. Bridging the gap between the deity and the devotee!