What do Thailand, Czech Republic, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and Nepal have in common? Ans: Ganpati Bappa Morya

By Anup Dutta 

As we all are immersed in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi-one of India’s most cherished festivals, honouring Ganapati, God of wisdom, learning, and annihilator of all obstacles of life. Yet, beneath festival rituals and sweet treats, several countries have expressed unconditional honour to Ganesha. 

In 2013, the Thai government issued a stamp featuring Lord Ganesha to honour and commemorate this god of wisdom. This stamp was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, the National artist of the country. 

Lord Ganesha Stamp issued by Thailand in 2013

According to some reports, the Thai government issued a coin in 2011 in honour of Ganesha, worshipped first in Hindu traditions as the God of New Beginnings. 

The Chez Republic in the year 2007, issued a stamp in honour of Lord Ganesha and his parent, Shiva and Parvati. In this colourful and rare stamp, Parvati and her son Ganesha are positioned on Shiva’s lap. In a similar picture, stamps issued by Mozambique (2009) and Sri Lanka (1990) can be seen. The other face mentioned in the stamp issued by Mozambique is of Mahatma Gandhi. Notably, the stamp issued by Sri Lanka refers to Polonnaruwa Ganesha. The stamp was issued to mark the 100th anniversary of Archaeology in 1990. 

Far left top- Lord Ganesha been issued by Chez Republic (2007), centre Mozambique (2009) and Sri Lanka (1990).

The neighbouring Nepal issued a postage stamp on Kageshwar Ganesh, featuring a sculpture of Lord Ganesha in the year 2003 under the "Visit Nepal" series. Similarly, in the year 2010, Nepal issued another postage stamp of Maru Ganesh, one of the four major Ganesh temples that guard the ancient city of Kathmandu from all four cardinal directions. 

Postage stamp on Kageshwar Ganesh, featuring a sculpture of Lord Ganesha in the year 2003 by Nepal.

Postage stamp featuring Maru Ganesh, issued by Nepal in the year 2010.

Over the past decades, India too has expressed its values and shared its cultural identity with the rest of the world by issuing many postage stamps in honour of Lord Ganesha. In the year 2019, the postage stamp you're looking below issued by India and features twin Ganesha dedicated to the Lord Ganesha located in Barsur Town in Dantewada District in Chhattisgarh. 

A postage stamp on twin Ganesha, dedicated to the Lord Ganesha located in Barsur Town in Dantewada District in Chhattisgarh. 

(Anup Dutta is a senior journalist and teaches at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.)