Ganesh Chaturthi: This Ganesha Temple in Kanpur Was Built by Deceiving the British

Amid Ganesh Mahotsav festivities nationwide, one may be amazed to know that Kanpur is home to a historic Ganesha temple which has a remarkable colonial past. This temple, whose foundation was laid by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1918, has been witness to the freedom movement and was constructed by deceiving the British.

The temple at Ghantaghar, designed like a house, features various idols of Lord Ganesha, including his family. There are the nine forms of Lord Ganesha in this temple.

The story behind its construction is intriguing. Initially, the British refused to allow the temple to be constructed since there was a mosque located in the vicinity. To find a way about this restriction, the temple was built in a house-like structure to remain discreet and hidden from public view. Once the construction was completed, the temple became a revered place of worship.

Located in the Clock Tower in Kanpur city, this Ganesh temple features a large idol of Lord Ganesha installed on the front façade. The temple construction began in 1918. It was built by Lal Ramcharan and Lal Thakur Prasad, who had expressed their desire to build this temple to Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1908. When Tilak visited Kanpur in 1918, he performed the Bhoomi Pujan, marking the beginning of the temple’s construction.

During Ganeshotsav, devotees from all over visit this temple for darshan. It is the only temple in the country where Lord Ganesha is depicted with his sons, Shubh and Labh, and his wives, Riddhi and Siddhi. The temple also features a unique 10-headed idol of Lord Ganesha.