Every Durga Puja Pandal has a Ganesha figure/statue. However the way the Ganesha is depicted is very different from how he is depicted in the south.
Yes, elephant head, big tummy, multiple hands. But somehow the Bengali Ganesha looks unhealthy. Like a fat uncle who needs to go on weight loss. Visceral fat tending at 11.5
The South Indian Ganesha still has a large belly. But looks cute. You won’t look at him and say “you need to go on a weight loss”. You would say “aww, chubby boy”
Even the face is a little different. There is an unwarranted maturity, anger and disappointment in the Bengali Ganesha’s face. The South Indian version has some innocence and happiness to it.
Did Ganesha age when he came to the north? Become unhealthy when he started eating Bengali sweets? Why is this difference?
Honestly, given Ganesha resembles wisdom, joy etc, the South India version depicts him better.
