Last updated: Sep 19, 2023 9:03 PM IST
Mukesh Ambani and family perform aarti on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi at their residence. Photo/News18
From clothing to decor, from technique to interpretation, from fabric to flowers, every element of Reliance’s Ganesh Chaturthi celebration this year is inspired by craft, sustainability and empowerment
The work at Reliance has always been about People, Planet and Purpose. This year, the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations here embody these pillars. From clothing to decor, from technique to interpretation, from fabric to flowers, every element is inspired by craft, sustainability and empowerment.
Purpose: Celebrating the spirit of ‘Make in India’
Paying tribute to Maharashtra’s cultural heritage, the central theme of decor and design revolves around Paithani. This celebrated Indian art form is practiced by traditional Indian artisans who have perfected and passed down their skills from generation to generation.
For this year’s Ganpati, the traditional flora and fauna motifs of Paithani are reimagined through various Indian crafts. From Lucknow’s Zardozi hand embroidery to Odisha’s handmade Kagaj Charai (paper mache), the entire space has been transformed into a tapestry of Indian craft.
People: empowering people and sustaining livelihoods
Ganpati’s Baraat, featuring Mooshaks, Modaks, Elephants, Camels and Barasinghas, is lovingly handwoven by over 700 underprivileged women. Crafted to perfection, these toys have enabled, employed and empowered women from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This celebration not only brings joy to the homes of the people of Reliance, but also to the lives of countless artisans across the country. More than 400 artisans have meticulously embellished the flower wall behind the statue using the age-old art of flower pasting.
The Battis Gajanana corridor is decorated with 32 forms of Ganesha on translucent panels, each with reimagined Paithani motifs. This venture required more than 900 hand embroiderers and more than 5,000 hours to design and create textiles that tell stories and narratives about Ganesha’s mythology, significance and divine miracles.
A carpet of more than five lakh ghungroos was woven and placed over the area. Welcoming Bappa to the clinking of these ghungroos added an atmosphere of calm and positivity to the festivities.
Planet: An ode to mother Earth
Reliance’s Ganesh Chaturthi decor this year also tells a story of ingenuity and waste management, with every textile, floral and design element carefully chosen.
Hundreds of scraps were reused to make toys and tassels in honor of Ganesha’s arrival. These Mooshak and Modak toys are placed on recycled PVC pipes, wrapped in flowers and fabrics.
The all-natural flowers used during the event are recycled and reused to make fertilizer for plants and incense sticks for temples. Only sustainably produced natural silk, cotton and textiles have been used throughout.
