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Welcome to The Blue Trunk!
I’m Ujval Anand, founder and curator.
What began as a personal passion for collecting has grown into The Blue Trunk, a collection of Indian vintage art, ritual objects, masks, wooden carvings and other cultural finds. Over the years, travel and encounters with collectors, families and artisans have shaped the way I discover and curate these pieces.
At our gallery in Aarey, Mumbai, an old blue trunk remains a symbol of the journey that started it all. Through this website, I’m delighted to share these discoveries with collectors and curious minds, wherever they may be.
I invite you to explore the collection and discover something that speaks to you.
This handcrafted wooden Kavadi panel features Lord Ganesha seated on a fully bloomed lotus at its centre. Carved in Raintree wood, the composition brings together detailed iconography, ornamental engraving and architectural elements inspired by South Indian temple design.
Ganesha is depicted with four arms holding a conch (shankha), a hatchet (parashu), a lotus and a sweetmeat (modaka). These attributes are associated with different aspects of divine power, spiritual knowledge and auspiciousness. The lotus forms the base of the central figure, reinforcing the devotional character of the panel.
The upper section rises into a temple gopuram-inspired silhouette, decorated with fine engraved motifs. Below, two carved birds appear within an ornamental register, adding detail and balance to the composition. The layered carving gives the Raintree wood depth and texture, while a hook on the reverse allows the panel to be mounted on a wall.
The Kavadi form is associated with the devotional tradition of Lord Murugan, particularly the Thaipusam festival in Tamil Nadu, when devotees carry ceremonial structures as offerings and acts of devotion. This panel adapts that distinctive silhouette to a representation of Lord Ganesha, bringing together the visual language of South Indian devotional art and traditional wood carving.
Suitable for a home shrine, meditation space or collection of Indian devotional objects, this panel combines religious iconography with temple-inspired craftsmanship.
Details
Object: Wooden Ganesha Kavadi panel
Deity: Lord Ganesha
Material: Raintree wood
Technique: Handcrafted wood carving and ornamental engraving
Design: Ganesha seated on a lotus, with four arms and traditional attributes
