At the Indianapolis Museum of Arts, Consecration of the Asian Galleries Will Include Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim Ceremonies

September 3, 2005

Source: The Indianapolis Star

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/LIVING/509030381/1007/LIVING

On September 3, 2005 The Indianapolis Star reported, "In the Hindu faith, Ganesha is the elephant-headed god of success, education, wisdom and wealth. The Indianapolis Museum of Art will tap into that spirit Thursday when a Hindu priest calls upon Ganesha and performs a consecration ceremony of the museum's Asian Galleries. The Hindu ceremony is part of a yearlong effort by the museum to focus on the religious faiths of Asia -- an effort that will lead into the scheduled opening of the Asian Galleries in June... In November, a Buddhist ritual will be performed, and a lecture about the art and imagery of Buddhism will be presented. In March, the Sufi Islamic religious tradition will be featured through music, dance and a blessing ceremony, [says Jim Robinson, curator of the Asian Galleries]... The curator [also says] that plans are being developed for events and ceremonies representing the influence of Judaism and Christianity in Asia."