Ganesha Coloring Book, Ages 8-12

Who it's for

Children aged 8 to 12 who want something more than thick outlines: detailed drawings that take an afternoon, and a reason to look closely. Each picture is a different murti style from somewhere in India, and each one is named, so the book quietly becomes a tour of how Bappa is made and dressed from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Odisha.

Every page carries the name of the murti style, one line about what makes it special, and one or two lines of learning drawn from the stories of Ganesha. If you are curious about the styles themselves, we have written a short guide to them here.

Inside the book

First, the story of Ganesh Chaturthi in 12 pictures, from Parvati's clay boy to the farewell at the sea. Then these pictures, each with a line about it and a lesson underneath:

• Pagdi Ganpati – Real courage protects, it does not boast.
• Singhasan Ganpati – Whoever sits highest must serve the most.
• Mukut Ganpati – Wear your best thoughts like a crown.
• The Grand Mumbai Pandal Ganpati – Fear is the biggest obstacle Ganesha removes.
• Bappa on the Fort Throne – Build your character like a fort: strong, patient, open to friends.
• The Balaji Look – Trust lightens every load.
• Pune's Golden Ganpati – The wise hear everything and say what is needed.
• Hyderabad's Five-Faced Giant – See a problem from every side before you act.
• The Eco Warrior Bappa – Love for God includes love for the sea and the soil.
• Saree-Draped Bappa – God meets us in our own homes and our own clothes.
• Dancing Bappa – Do your work with a dancing heart.
• Bappa and the Moon Rocket – Curiosity, patience and teamwork took India to the Moon.
• The Shiv Family on Kailash – Peace at home is the first peace.
• Parvati and Baby Ganesha – Honour your mother; she is your first teacher.
• Bappa as Shri Ram – Truth spoken and truth kept: that is Ram's way.
• Bappa as Krishna – Joy is a way of teaching too.
• Bappa Resting on Sheshnag – Stay calm while the world moves around you.
• The Ten Avatars Around Bappa – Help arrives in shapes we do not expect.
• Bappa and Hanuman – Be strong like Hanuman, thoughtful like Ganesha.
• Bappa with Lakshmi and Saraswati – Learn first; the rest follows.
• Vakratunda on the Lion – Be glad for what others have; envy only eats the envious.
• Vikata on the Peacock – Enough is a feast.
• Nritya Ganapati, the Dancer – Gratitude is the dance of a full heart.
• Heramba, the Five-Headed Protector – Strength is for protecting, not for showing.
• Maha Ganapati – Look for the truth behind the surface.
• The Balancing Bappa – Balance in life takes daily practice too.
• Veena Ganapati – Music and learning lift us above heaviness.
• Bappa on the Globe – You belong to the whole world; be kind to all of it.
• Pillaiyar of Tamil Nadu – Every journey has a guardian at its start.
• Gujarat's Mirror-Work Bappa – Reflect the light you receive back into the world.
• Odisha's Silver Filigree Bappa – Patience makes beautiful things.
• The Decorated Makhar – Give goodness the best place in your heart.

How to use it

• Start with the story. The book opens with the story of Ganesh Chaturthi in twelve pictures, the same story as the younger edition, drawn for an older hand.
• Use fine tools for the detail. Colored pencils and fine-tip markers suit the jewellery, crowns and patterns. Very wet markers can soak through paper, so slip a sheet of card behind the page.
• Read the lesson, then look again. The lesson lines point at something in the picture: the raised hand that says "do not fear", the big ears that say "listen more, speak less".
• Try the two art pages at the end. One asks your child to copy a murti square by square; the other shows how to draw Ganesha step by step.

Frequently asked questions