Sandstone statue of Ganesha

October 7 is Ganesha Day in Denver


In honor of the exhibition Ganesha: The Playful Protector, Mayor Michael Hancock declared October 7, 2017, Ganesha Day in Denver. The entire community is invited to enjoy free general admission to the Denver Art Museum and see Ganesha on October 7. Below is the official proclamation:


WHEREAS, Denver recognizes the value of inspiring creativity and critical thinking in children and all residents; and

WHEREAS, the Denver Art Museum shares and embodies this value by serving the Denver region year-round with special exhibitions, family programming, and free access to all children under 18; and

WHEREAS, On October 1, 2017, the museum will open Ganesha: The Playful Protector as part of an ongoing cultural exchange with The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh and the Kingdom of Cambodia; and

WHEREAS, The National Museum of Cambodia has loaned a statue of Ganesha, a significant pre-Angkor artwork from the 7th to 8th century, that will form the centerpiece of the exhibition, and be on view with 17 additional sculptures, paintings and textiles from the Denver Art Museum’s own collection depicting the Hindu deity; and

WHEREAS, A cultural exchange between the Denver Art Museum and the Kingdom of Cambodia was initiated when the Denver Art Museum returned the Torso of Rama, a 10th century Khmer sandstone sculpture that had been in the museum’s collection for nearly 30 years, after uncovering new provenance facts related to the piece; and

WHEREAS, The Denver Art Museum recognizes the value of cross-cultural exchanges, the importance of bringing together many cultures under one roof, the exploration of human creativity across time and nations, and reflecting and embracing global cultures; and

WHEREAS, the Denver Art Museum and all the city’s cultural institutions are powerful drivers of tourism and economic activity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL B. HANCOCK, MAYOR OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER, Colorado, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby officially proclaim Saturday, October 7, as

Ganesha: The Playful Protector Day”

in Denver, a full day with free general admission to all at the Denver Art Museum.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of the City and County of Denver to be affixed this 26th day of September, 2017.

MAYOR MICHAEL B. HANCOCK

Image: Ganesha, 600s–700s, Cambodia. Sandstone; 29 x 25 in. Lent by the National Museum of Cambodia.