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3D-printed “Raleigh cha Raja” Ganesh idol gets bigger this year

Building on the success of their 2023 initiative by designing an idol that is 100 percent American-made, this time the group has created a bigger and more innovative Ganesh idol.

2024 Raleigh Cha Raja. / Courtesy/ Kanishk Harde

A diaspora group in Raleigh, North Carolina, has outdone themselves by creating a bigger and better Ganesh idol this year to celebrate the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi that commenced on Sept. 7.

The group of Kanishk Harde, Jui Dudhiya, Gopika Mani, Harshil Sanghavi, Hari Prasad,Pritha Bose and Ishan Shah, created a two-feet tall 3D-printed Ganesh idol named, “Raleigh cha Raja,” which translates to “King of Raleigh," comprising of 26 intricately crafted pieces entirely made in the USA, with no components or materials sourced from India last year. 

This year, the group has continued to build on the success of their 2023 initiative by designing an idol that is 100 percent American-made, but this time it is bigger and more innovative. This year's idol is three-feet tall with as many as 80 distinct pieces, all meticulously assembled and hand-painted to retain the traditional look and feel that resonates with the cultural heritage of Ganesh Chaturthi.

2024 Raleigh Cha Raja. / Courtesy/ Kanishk Harde

Kanishk Harde, one of the people involved in the idol’s creation said the whole project took three months to come to life. 'We believe that this year's Raleigh cha Raja holds even greater significance as it showcases how cultural traditions can continue to grow, adapt, and be reimagined, even thousands of miles from home," he told New India Abroad.

"This project is a continued demonstration of the harmonious fusion of modern technology and traditional Indian art, representing not only our devotion but also our ability to innovate while preserving the essence of our culture. The 2024 edition of Raleigh cha Raja represents the next step in our journey to merge tradition and technology.," he added.

The idol will be part of the festivities at 3234 Octavia St, Raleigh, NC, from September 7 to17, 2024.

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