Indore Man's Lifelong Passion Yields 5,000 Unique Ganesha Idols

As of August 2025, Rajkumar Shah, a 55-year-old chartered accountant in Indore, has dedicated the past 22 years to building an unparalleled collection of Ganesha idols. What began as a simple personal habit in 2003 has blossomed into a unique assemblage of over 5,000 statues, each one distinct in size, form, and design.

Shah's journey did not start with idols but with greeting cards and wedding invitations. He used to save every picture of Ganesha and Lakshmi printed on these cards, determined not to let them end up in the trash. When that collection was spoiled, he decided to begin preserving Ganesha idols instead. Over the years, his collection has grown to include statues made of clay, ceramic, wood, metal, glass, and even American diamond.

Some of the rare pieces in Shah's collection include a Ganesha carved on a peepal leaf in gold, a Ganesh decorated with imitation stones, and modern depictions such as a lawyer, a dancer, a cricketer, or one seated with a laptop. Shah has sourced these idols from across India and abroad during his travels, from Bali and South Africa to Udaipur, Jaipur, Kolkata, Thailand, Karnataka, Pune, Mumbai, and Indore. Friends and relatives have also contributed by gifting him unique Ganesha statues from their journeys.

Maintaining such a vast collection is no small task, but Shah's wife, Seema, devotes hours every day to cleaning and arranging the statues. "It feels like seva, not work," she says. "Looking after them fills our house with peace."