This Ganesha Chaturthi, God comes in myriad postures

This Ganesha Chaturthi season, tattoo studios seem to be doing good business. Throngs of men and women aregetting their favourite elephant-headed deity etched on their arms. “Ganesha has been an all-time favourite not justduring Ganesha Utsav, but throughout the year. However, considering that Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated in a bigway in the city, we have some special offers for Ganesha-themed tattoos,” said Veer, owner of Eternal Expressions, apopular tattoo studio.
Ganesha-themed designs depict the elephant god in myriad postures: Ganesha in leaf and with veena, laddoos and his mouse. There are also abstract and black and white versions of the idol.
Nipunika is all set to get a tattoo of ‘Om with Ganesh.’ “Ganesha brings luck to my house. The left side of his trunk, inparticular, is really lucky. We have 24 figures of Ganesha in my house,” she said, adding that the tattoowill be etched for the first time and that she is really excited about it.
Pradeep Menon, who owns a designer tattoo studio in Fraser Town, said the number of customers increased over the past two weeks as the studio has been doling out discounts. He said although Ganesha has been the central theme, customers have also come up with their unique Ganesha designs.
“Some customers, for instance, want to blend their star sign with the trunk of Ganesha. Some just want Ganesha mantra to be etched. Some even go to the extent of having a sleeve tattoo in which all the elements of Ganesha, such as slokas, would be incorporated,” said Menon.
For Shivam, a student, Ganesha is the lord of letters and learning. “ I feel a Ganeshatattoo would bring me good luck and that I will be able to do well in my MBA,” he said, adding that he plans to go for a2.5 inch Ganesha with Om, which looks traditional yet contemporary.
This time stores are offering exclusive discounts. “For any Ganesha symbol, we offer 30% discount. Be it a plainGanesha with strokes or the one with intricate designs, we offer the best deals,” said Tejas of Skin Deep tattoo studio. “Usually we charge Rs1,250 for a standard tattoo, but this Ganesha festival, our studio is offering a 50% discount,” said Vishal, owner of US Jewellery and Tattoo Studio.