Ganesh Plant Just Run of the Mill Elephant Head Amaranth

Remember that amaranth plant growing in Queens in the shape of Ganesh? Yesterday the Daily News had talked to the Queens Botanical Garden about it, after a man claimed it containted healing powers, and the experts said they had "never seen an amaranth take an elephant-like shape ... the trunk-like formation is not a natural thing.'' A reader pointed out, however, that there is an amaranth plant with "amazing, huge purple heads with one trunk-like appendage that looks like an elephant head." And hey, guess what it's called: The Elephant Head Amaranth. So put a halt to your pilgrimage plans, and grow your own Ganesh for just $2.95 (enlightenment not included)!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on October 23, 2008 11:00 AM

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bklyn1

As Hindus we believe that with vishwas (belief) you can see God is everything, since he is the creator of everything. But to say that this plant is "rare" is misleading and to have the Queens Botanical Garden also claims that it is rare is dumfounding! Come on people. The elephant shape of this flower is its natural shape, hence it is also referred to as the elephant head flower/plant (proper names are: Elephant Amaranthus or Amaranth). And for those of us who are from Guyana, this flower is most popular. So why are we getting so miss-lead? In today's age of the IT revolution, let's hit the computers and do some research!!! Now, if this plant had sprung up overnight into this shape, then we probably would have reason to pause and think of such a miraculous happening. But the plant existed for months!!! Please let's not use Hinduism and its wonderful teachings for cult like behavior. It makes us look stupid.

Sanatan Dharma Ki Jai!