A 12th-century idol representing the Hindu god Ganesh has been discovered accidentally in southeastern India.
A farmer in the village of Motupalli in Prakasam District stumbled across the stone statue while tilling his land.
In Hinduism, Lord Ganesh is presented as a portly elephant-headed figure with four arms.
He is considered the god of wisdom, the patron of science and art and the remover of obstacles.
Standing about 18 inches tall, the idol displays Ganesh sitting cross-legged, known as the 'Padmasana' posture, on a lotus pedestal.
Two of the idol's hands are broken—in one remaining hand he holds his broken tusk and in the other a sweet Indian dumpling known as a modaka.
The announcement of the idol's discovery came during the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival, when Hindus celebrate Lord Ganesh's birth.
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A 13 inch stone idol of Ganesh, the Hindu remover of obstacles, was discovered in Andhra Pradesh on the eve of a festival celebrating the elephant-headed god's birth
Farmer Siripudi Venkateswaralu discovered the idol on September 9 while tilling his farm in Motupalli, a village in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, The Hindu reported.
Found on the eve of a festival devoted to Ganesh, the 800-year-old idol drew crowds of locals and visitors alike.
Running from September 10 to 19 this year, Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with fasting, offerings, and prayers.
Later, modaka is distributed and public feasts and martial arts exhibitions are held.
Ganesh is typically presented with four arms, with an ax in his upper right hand, a noose in his upper left hand and sweet dumplings in the lower left. His
