Hindu deity Ganesha mysteriously appears on St Helier's barbecue pit

A statue of Hindu god Ganesha appeared on the barbecue at the same time as the Hindu festival of Onam. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

A statue of Hindu deity Ganesha has mysteriously appeared on an Auckland Council barbecue pit in St Heliers Bay.

A local resident who was walking his dog saw the statue and thought it had been put there as a decorative ornament by the council.

"I thought it was a bit odd that the council was using a religious statue," he said.

Ganesha is easily identified because of his elephant head, and is one of the best-known and most worshipped Hindu deities.

Simon Randall, the council's acting head of operational management and maintenance said the statue wasn't placed there by the council.

"We do know offerings like this appear from time to time in public places, especially during religious festivals," Randall sai.

Today marks the Hindu festival of Onam, a festival celebrated by the Malayali diaspora around the world.

It is believed the statue may have been placed there as an observance of the festival.

"We will remove the statue at St Heliers Bay today so the barbecue facilities can return to public use," Randall said.

"However if the owner of the statue would like to claim it, they're welcome to phone the council on 301-0101."