15 January,2009 10:15 AM IST | | Kranti Vibhute
Mumbai-resident to hold exhibition of various Ganesha idols in Pune; 32 forms of Ganesha mentioned in Tatva Nidhi Granth, 29 forms worshipped in foreign countries and 10 murals in female form will be put on display
JOGINDER Singh Kahan (57) calls it the collector's paradise. After 20 years of research on lord Ganesha, Kahan has collected 32 forms of Ganesha idols mentioned in Tatva Nidhi Granth, 29 forms that are worshipped in foreign countries and 10 murals of Ganesha in the female form.
A resident of Mumbai, Kahan is all set to display his collection at an exhibition centre in Dhankawdi, Pune. The centre will be inaugurated on January 17 by former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena MP Manohar Joshi.
Kahan began his research on various forms of idols when an astrologer told him that he was born to worship Ganesha. He soon started collecting information from various parts of the country and bought books from India and abroad.
Kahan collected information of more than 5,000 Ganesha idols. He even gathered details of idols worshipped in 36 countries.
"I don't want to delay the centre, especially after putting in so much of hard work. This exhibition centre will be replaced by an international dham that is being planned on 11-acre land at Wavandhan (located on the old Mumbai-Pune highway). That's my dream project," said Kahan, who runs a security and detective agency in Pune.
During his research Kahan found out that Indonesia, a country with highest Muslim population in the world, had Ganesha on its currency.
This international dham will include a meditation centre, job-oriented training centre, research centre, Ganesha idol manufacturing company, as well as a library with 3,000 books only on the elephant god.
"People will be able to buy murals that will cost between Rs 30, 000 tou00a0 45,000," he said. Kahan says he will continue with his research and hopes that his 21-year-old son, Paramjit, will carry on his legacy.
