September 14, 2021
New Delhi, India
As part of E Factor Experiences
Under the aegis of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
Dilli ki Ganesh Chaturthi
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Dilli ki Ganesh Chaturthi *
Dilli ki Ganesh Chaturthi was envisioned as a public prayer and cultural celebration — a festival where a city could gather, honour, and rejoice together. Curated under the aegis of the Government of Delhi and Delhi Tourism, the event transformed the banks of the Yamuna near Signature Bridge into a vivid devotional landscape, merging traditional ritual with contemporary spectacle. In the aftermath of the COVID waves, the event was intentionally designed as a live broadcast to evoke collective feeling—even from afar—amplifying its spiritual and cultural presence across Delhi and the nation.
As cultural curator, Nayanika led the interpretation and spatial storytelling — from conceiving the scenography to developing installations that interpreted lesser-known stories like Ekdunt by working closely with artists, designers, and storytellers. A floating stage, that one entered through towering temple bell gates, signalled a dramatic arrival into a sanctified zone. Celebrity performances by Shankar Mahadevan and Suresh Wadkar were paired with rituals performed by 21 pandits (Hindu priests). Through event design and media intervention, Dilli ki Ganesh Chaturthi redefined how a civic space could host sacred energy in times of restriction protocols for public movement.
Images Copyright: E Factor Experiences Ltd
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To celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi as a citywide prayer for health, prosperity, and unity
To create a visually rich, participatory ritual experience that fuses sacred tradition with the creative arts
To offer a model of safe, meaningful public celebration in a post-COVID civic landscape
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On-ground ethnographic observation of Ganesh festivities across India
Media studies of televised devotional programming in India
Public safety and COVID-appropriate protocols integrated into event planning
Consultations with religious scholars, performance artists, urban planners, event architects, government stakeholders, installation artists, graphic designers and production experts
Site Recce
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Iconography and mythological significance of Lord Ganesha (Birth, Ekdunt, Vighnaharta)
Material culture of devotion — bells, rangoli, lamps, diyas
Theatrical ritual (shankhnaad, sthapana, aarti) as live and symbolic experience
Broadcasting sacred content: rhythm, tone, visual grammar
Urban sacred geographies — riverbanks, bridges, and public parks
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Concept notes for designers and celebrity participants to align vision
Social media and marketing taglines rooted in faith, emotion, and visual appeal
Interpretive labels and spatial storytelling for guests
Script support for live segments (aarti, performances, ceremonial rituals)
Stakeholder communication collateral writing and design
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A high-impact, multisensory religious-cultural event with nationwide outreach
Over 1 million viewers were reached through live broadcast and social media streams
Developed as the visual cornerstone of Dilli ki Ganesha Chaturthi, the selected festival logo embodies divine radiance and cultural gravitas. Chosen from multiple iterations, its form and palette are anchored by the sacred mantra “Vakratunda Mahakaya…”, invoking Lord Ganesha’s presence to guide all collective efforts with clarity, brilliance, and auspicious strength.
Festival Identity Development
Collaterals & Scenography
From early pencil sketches to full-scale installations
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Scenography
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From early pencil sketches to full-scale installations * Scenography *
The collateral suite conceptualised and designed for Dilli ki Ganesh Chaturthi carried the festival’s visual identity across print media. From the fold-out brochure featuring the full event itinerary and curated messaging and formal invitations issued to dignitaries, to flags adorning the venue and outdoor branding—each piece carried forward the sanctity of the occasion while enabling a wider, homogenised public announcement of the festival through consistent visual design communication.