In his varied iconography, Nritya Ganapati (“Dancing Ganapati”) is an extraordinary representation of the God. Why does he dance? As usual, there’s a reason. Much like a playful child who delights his parents with playful antics, the youthful Ganesha loves to entertain Shiva and Parvati by dancing for them. Indeed, he cuts a rather comic figure, with his enormous ears, trunk and pot belly that does a gentle jiggle as he moves around, waving his arms.

Despite his ponderous bulk, there is lightness to his movements. Both in painting and sculpture, he is often depicted with one foot stretched to the left or right, while the hip opposite thrusts outward, suggesting a sense of movement. This representation shows Ganesha dancing tiptoe on one leg, the other leg lifted and bent sideways at the knee, in an exquisitely poised stance reminiscent of his father Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of Dance.