The elephant headed god Ganesh overcomes obstacles and ensures auspicious results. In the Indian state of Gujarat he features on small embroidered triangular or square panels ('stapanas') that are installed for worship within the home. On the 'stapana' the embroidered form of Ganesh is not only a representation of the god, it is also the god himself, present in the house. There is great variation in how Ganesh is depicted, depending on the conventions within the family, caste, village or locality of the embroiderer. These 1960s examples are from Kutch and Saurashtra in present-day Gujarat.

Asian Art Department, AGNSW, October 2010.