Faith matters more than rules

“Bring home Ganesha with dedication and offer sincere prayers. As the festival is about worshipping Ganesha, the focus should be on pooja offered to the deity than the colour, size and posture of the idol,” says Dr. S K Jain, noted astrologer.

Shatavadhani Dr R Ganesh recommends devotees to stay with tradition while choosing idols.

“Hand-made clay Ganeshas are better than idols made in a mould. The size is immaterial and a handy-sized Ganesha is best suited for homes,” says R Ganesh. He says it’s better to opt for traditional images as brilliantly coloured Ganesha is merely an expression of creativity. “Pick idols without colour or go for the ones with vegetable colours. Banking only on the appearance of idols can lead to ‘spiritual distance’ and defeat the very purpose of bringing home Ganesha,” he adds.

According to a Bangalore-based priest Shashanka Murthy, it’s ideal to have Ganesha in a sitting posture at home. “Be it Lakshmi or Ganesha, it is always desirable to have an idol in sitting posture as the standing deity tends to run away,” says Murthy.