The Hindu elephant god, Ganesh, made of bananas
|
Ganesha is the Hindu god who orchestrates between form and formlessness. He is the omnipresent energy out of which all things manifest and into which they will ultimately dissolve.
In the village of Sambalpur in Odisha, a small group of 11 people calling themselves the Natraj Club create a Ganesh sculpture every year. This one is made of five tons of green bananas and stands 27 feet tall. When the bananas ripen, Ganesh himself will be dissolved as all the parts of his sweet and edible body are distributed to the poor.
(Thanks to Harriet Sams for this story.)
|
|
To discover other stories of inspiring people, stories, photos, and ideas, subscribe to
|
MORE RADICAL JOY REVEALED
“There’s No Wounding Here”
Every now and then, around this time of year, in the weeks leading up to the Global Earth Exchange, someone emails to tell me they’d like to participate in our annual event of giving beauty [...]
Do It Though No One Notices
A young woman I know who lives in North Carolina considers herself an ardent environmental activist. She belongs to the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society, works for an organization that runs therapeutic wilderness programs [...]
In Memory of a Cardinal
Radical Joy for Hard Times has always urged our members around the world to give attention and beauty to those places and beings that have meaning for them. It’s not necessary to seek out some [...]