India sets up Hindu lord Ganesha’s military avatar amid tensions with Pakistan

As tensions between Pakistan and India heighten following the latter’s revocation of Article 370 to rob occupied Kashmir of its autonomy, Hindu lord Ganesha has sported an army look on his birthday — Ganesha Chaturthi.

Ganesha, a Hindu lord, is worshipped in the religion for several of his attributes, including the remover of obstacles. He is the patron of arts and sciences and the lord of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies.

With Hindu devotees time and again erecting mighty statues of Ganesha sporting various looks across India, one that shows him in an Indian army uniform and holding a gun has garnered immense attention.

Meet Lord 'Military' Ganesha installed at Egmore in Tamil Nadu for #GaneshChaturthi festival. | 📷: B. Velankanni Raj#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/AKumPMGKi0

— The Hindu (@the_hindu) September 2, 2019

While the move appears to be an attempt to boost the morale of Indian soldiers amid cross-border tensions and skirmishes across the Line of Control (LoC), it has not been very well received by netizens.

Since the Indian Army Soldiers can't fight, it's a good idea to bring Military ganesha out as this is the only way out to fight a War @MirMAKOfficial @_GhulamMustafa_ @SdqJaan

— Khurram Nawaz Gandapur (@GandapurPAT) September 2, 2019

This is a ridiculous depiction.

— Janardhanan S🇮🇳 (@MadCapProf) September 2, 2019

Mythology aur jingoism ek saath.🙏🙏🙏

— Abhishek Chaudhary (@Abhishe84451798) September 2, 2019

Statues of Ganesha donning cricket jerseys during the ICC World Cup or other important tournaments is also a common sight in India.