Since 65 Years, This Mumbai Artist Has Been Making Sabudana Rangolis Of Lord Ganesha By Hand

In 1961, Mohankumar Dodecha, a sculptor from Mulund, had a revelation. In his rangoli made of coloured rice, grains, sabudana and pulses, sabudana or sago pearls stood out. This was the start of a unique Ganeshotsav tradition spanning 65 years (to date) and three generations of the Dodecha family. Every year, Mohankumar Dodecha and his family create a rangoli for Ganeshotsav made entirely out of sabudana. Like the much-awaited Ganesh mandals in Mumbai, the Sago Ganesha Rangoli is a spectacle. Devotees, including eminent politicians, travel far and wide for darshan.

Mumbai Artist Mohankumar Dodecha Creates Sago Ganesha Rangoli

Last year, 81-year-old Mohankumar Dodecha with his closely knit family members and artists —Bhupesh Joshi
Bhavna Bhanushali, Dr Archana Palan, Dr Kalpanaben and Dr Chetan Kotak — created a 5-foot wide and 6-foot long Sago Ganesha Rangoli.

35 kg of sago pearls, five pairs of hands and 30 days went into this creation, an ode to Lord Ganesha, a deity not just known for the removal of obstacles but for blessing one with creativity as well.

Previously, Dodecha adapted his rangoli designs from the works of eminent artist SM Pandit. In 2024, the sago rangoli’s design was inspired by a calendar painting of Lord Ganesha worshipping his parents, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati.

It reminds one of the eponymous tale of Lord Ganesha and his brother Karthikeya’s race around the world. Only for Lord Ganesha to walk around his parents, displaying his familial devotion. His parents were his world.

35 Kg Of Sago Pearls, 5 Artists And One Month

At first glance from a distance, it’s nearly impossible to detect the sago pearls. The ingredient is painted in over 250 to 350 shades of different colours. Mohankumar Dodecha’s grandson

Dhyan explained the creative process. Base colours are prepared by mixing poster acrylic paints with water and glue in different proportions to extract different shades of the same colour. Then, sago pearls are soaked in the colours and left overnight to absorb the hues.

For a month, the artists spend at least 12 hours daily, painstakingly sticking each sago pearl on the sketch using tweezers. With the work in its final stage, the countdown has started to when visitors will be able to get a darshan of this beautiful  Ganesha Sago Rangoli.

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A 65-YO Tradition Recognised By Guinness World Book Of Records

This is a 65-year-old Ganeshotsav tradition that has been recognised by the Limca Book of Records and the Guinness World Book of Records. Mohankumar Dodecha’s ingenious artwork has also been featured in a documentary by the Films Division.

Eminent Indian politicians like Manoj Kishorbhai Kotak, Kirit Somaiya, Tara Singh and Charan Singh Sapra, apart from 10,000 other devotees, have specially visited Mulund West to have a glimpse of this one-of-its-kind rangoli during Ganeshotsav.

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The Theme Of Mohankumar Dodecha’s 65th Ganesha Rangoli

Celebrating 65 glorious years of crafting Sago Ganesha Rangolis in Mumbai, Mohankumar Dodecha and his family’s latest piece is a heartfelt tribute to the globally renowned artist, SM Pandit. The rangoli is made with 35 kg of sabudana across 250 to 300 shades of colour. The artwork depicts Lord Ganesha valiantly slaying the demon, Sindhurasura.

Believed to be the “demon of ego”, the epic goes that Sindhurasura once terrorised the devas. Lord Ganesha, seated on his vahan, Mushakraj, vanquished the demon. This rangoli is a reminder that wisdom and humility will always triumph over pride.

The rangoli will be displayed from September 3, 2025, to September 14, 2025.

On having dedicatedly and devotionally prepared rangolis year after year, artist Mohankumar Dodecha and his family look forward to their art being recognised with a Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri, with Bappa’s blessings, of course!

Where: Flat No. 1304, 13th Floor (Bharat Thakker of Ishaan Developers) Maya Harmony (Azad Bhuvan-Old Name), Opposite Mayur Pankh Building, N.S. Road, Mulund West, Mumbai 400080
When: September 3 to 14, 2025
Timings: 10 am to 10 pm

Cover Image Courtesy: Mohankumar Dodecha