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Story: Diverse religions

Ganesha statue, Wellington

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Ganesha statue, Wellington

In 1995 the Hindu temple in Webb Street, Wellington, gained worldwide attention from news stories that its small bronze statue of the god Ganesha was drinking milk. Here Kokila Sivapalan offers it a teaspoonful. She reported that the statue dipped its trunk in the milk, which disappeared. Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, is worshipped by Hindus as both a placer and remover of obstacles.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1995/4165

by Ross Giblin

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paul Morris, Diverse religions – Hindus, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/32245/ganesha-statue-wellington (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paul Morris, published 28 April 2011.