Indian Friends Create Raleigh Ki Raja, A 3D-Printed Ganesha In North Carolina

A cultural tradition

In 1892 Bal Gangadhar Tilak began the tradition of extending Ganesh Chathurthi festivities around the immersion ( visarjan) of Ganapati idols in water bodies for 10 days. Over the last 132 years, this practice has spread across India and the world.

Mumbai is a city transformed in September each year when Ganesh Chathurthi fever takes hold, especially in the older parts south of the city. A variety of Ganesha idols, ranging from uber religious and fantastical to pop culture and humorous dot the streets, enticing locals and tourists on “pandal tours,” walking from tent to tent to see a staggering variety of shapes and sizes still recognizable as Ganesha, the popular Indian elephant God and remover of obstacles.

An endless sea of people chants “Ganapati Bapa Moriya” as they lift impossibly large platforms with giant statues and dioramas and inch toward the Arabian Sea. Onlookers gawk and children are scolded out of the way.

Ganesh Chaturthi abroad

Diasporic Indians took the tradition overseas to celebrate abroad, wherever they were, although Western nations often do not permit the immersion aspect. To them, celebrating the Ganapati festival was a way to feel a sense of belonging to a cultural connection to home; it’s a familiar refrain among diasporic communities, like the group of friends in Raleigh, NC who in 2023, decided to do something about recreating the festival stateside.

“Last year, we found ourselves missing the vibrant Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations we grew up with in India,” said Kanishk Harde. “The festival, which had always been a time of togetherness, devotion, and joy in Mumbai, felt distant here in the USA.”

Harde and his friends Jui Dudhiya, Gopika Mani, Harshil Sanghavi, Hari Prasad, Pritha Bose, and Ishan Shah decided to blend tradition with technology. Over the years, materials used for elaborate creations of Ganapati statues changed as newer generations and governments abandoned the toxic for more eco-friendly versions of the Ganesh idol.

An East Meets West plan

“The project became a beautiful fusion of tradition and modern technology, allowing us to connect with our cultural roots in an unexpected yet meaningful way,” said Harde.

The result was an ambitious East meets West plan – a two-foot tall, 3-D printed Ganesha Idol, that they dubbed “Raleigh cha Raja” or King of Raleigh, evoking memories of nomenclature trends in Mumbai.

The path between ideation and creation is often a difficult one, as the group discovered. While the 2023 version was two feet tall, in 2024 they decided to make it a foot taller and more elaborate, with 80 individual pieces.

“It took three months of meticulous planning, designing, assembling, and painting,” revealed Harde, describing their process, “Each piece was carefully sliced, printed, and assembled. We then had to fill in gaps between the pieces with bondo, a type of putty, to smooth out any visible cracks and ensure a seamless final product. After the assembly, the idol and its throne ( singhasan ) were ready for spray painting with a base coat.”

After hand painting the statue, they added “skin tones and nail polish to give the idol more depth and life. The final touch was the intricate diamond and stonework, which required a lot of skill and steady hands.”

Raleigh ki Raja

It was not easy to source materials locally, since traditional idol-making materials aren’t easily available in America. But the group pressed on, paying a unique tribute to their culture. “It’s not just about recreating the rituals, but also carrying forward the emotional depth that Ganesh Chaturthi has always held for me,” explained Harde.

That sentiment was shared by many young attendees who felt a profound connection to Raleigh cha Raja. “It was great to see something so familiar and cherished presented in a new light. It made me feel proud and nostalgic at the same time,” said Jhanvi Oza, a student from Pune.

The group had its fair share of challenges. Late one night, while assembling the idol, they realized that they had glued a piece on the throne upside down and had to redo an entire section at the very last minute. But looking back, what seemed like an impossible situation at the time now brings a chuckle.“It was difficult at the time, but now we laugh about it, especially when we remember how seriously we were all debating which way was up,” said Harde.

“The creativity and dedication behind Raleigh cha Raja were impressive. It’s amazing how the team managed to recreate the essence of our beloved festival here in Raleigh. It was a wonderful reminder of home,” said Romil Shah, a student from Mumbai summing up the mood at the festival.

“Our goal has always been to unite a community that is both deeply traditional and beautifully modern,” added Harde, “and this idol became a symbol of that.”

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