Lord Ganesha: A Family Member
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It was Saturday, 2nd day of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in India. I was visiting my friend's houses for Lord Ganesha Idol darshan! In the afternoon I had Ganesha darshan at Uma aunty's house. It had followed by lunch and gossips. After leaving aunty's place, I caught an autorickshaw to reach Goregaon railway station. By looking at those people carrying Lord Ganesha Idol in cars towards the Arabian Sea for visarjan, rickshaw driver said, "dekho na bhai, Ganpati kal aaye the aur aaj ja rahe hain. pata hi nahi chala kab din gujar gaya (Look bro, Ganpati came yesterday and he is going today. Didn't come to know when the day is passed.)" And I nodded. I started looking at people who was chanting and shouting one of the favourite mantras "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya (Lord Ganpati, come early next year!)" with claps and an enthusiasm. A sad moment passed. To avoid sad mood, I started checking Whatsapp messages and informing friends about my visit at their places in the evening. But mood became sad somehow!
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, most favorite festival in India, moreover in Maharashtra, for which people wait every year for long time. The actual date of first Ganesh Chaturthi Festival celebration is unknown but it was being celebrated during the era of beloved King Shivaji Maharaj and Peshwas. Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak had initiated the public celebration of this festival at large scale in the year 1893. The idea behind making it a large scale event was just to unite people together in British ruiling India. Nowadays, it is most famous festival and Indians celebrate all over the world.
Lord Ganesha is the most favorite God of Indian people. Despite of religion, every Indian celebrates this festival with complete devotion. It is close to their heart. Hence, they start preparations quite early to make this festival the best one every year. Workers of Lord Ganesha Idol factories start working 24/7 to build beautiful sculptures of Lord Ganesha. As the festival dates come closer, people start planning for building pandals. Pandals are designed in such a way that they will give either a social message or they will be copy of any specific building in the world mainly from India such as Shaniwar Wada in Pune, Taj Mahal in Agra, Golden Temple in Punjab and Dubai Airport.
Pandals are not only designed at large scale in Public but also they are designed in private celebrations at homes. People start planning for selecting favorite flowers and preparing food items such as modaks which are favourite of their beloved Lord Ganesha. Despite of the poverty, people try hard to celebrate this festival by adjusting their finances to give the best to their God. As families staying far from each other unite for this festival, right from children to elders in the house is eager to welcome Lord Ganesha. They are ready celebrating it in the best way they can.
People welcome Lord Ganesha with fireworks and various bands. They play songs written for Lord Ganesha on loudspeakers till the festival ends. Priests are invited to worship the God and install the idols at home or in public Pandals. As idols are installed, they send invitations to their friends to visit houses take Lord Ganesha darshan and see the various kinds of decorations. People just roam around to see public pandals and private decorations. As Lord Ganesha is most favourite God of Indian people, they can even stand in queue for number of hours to take mukh darshan of God just like in Lalbaugcha Raja at Lalbaug, Mumbai.
The climate is full of Joy. Excitement is everywhere. Lord Ganpati brings happiness to our mind and we pray to him to take away all the sorrows as he is also called by names sukhkarta and vighnavinashak. Every single idol of Lord Ganesha, makes us smile becoz of his peaceful eyes. Celebration of the Ganpati Festival continues till the very last moment. On the last day, it is hard to say such beloved God a goodbye. Even though we are yelling "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya" with full of energy, our heart is sad inside. Final aarti is the one which seems to be never happened. While singing it, tears start rolling down over the chicks. It is not because of love for the God, but it is because of he is nothing less than a family member. Every year, same situation occurs, when he comes brings joy; when he goes, leaves sadness with us.
It is very hard to write more. Because, end of celebration of this family member, left tears in my eyes. I just pray to God to come early next year so that we can enjoy this festival again by keeping away our sorrows!
Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!!!
Sunit S. Pendse
3rd Sept 2014
sunitpendse.blogspot.com
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It was Saturday, 2nd day of Ganesh Chaturthi Festival in India. I was visiting my friend's houses for Lord Ganesha Idol darshan! In the afternoon I had Ganesha darshan at Uma aunty's house. It had followed by lunch and gossips. After leaving aunty's place, I caught an autorickshaw to reach Goregaon railway station. By looking at those people carrying Lord Ganesha Idol in cars towards the Arabian Sea for visarjan, rickshaw driver said, "dekho na bhai, Ganpati kal aaye the aur aaj ja rahe hain. pata hi nahi chala kab din gujar gaya (Look bro, Ganpati came yesterday and he is going today. Didn't come to know when the day is passed.)" And I nodded. I started looking at people who was chanting and shouting one of the favourite mantras "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya (Lord Ganpati, come early next year!)" with claps and an enthusiasm. A sad moment passed. To avoid sad mood, I started checking Whatsapp messages and informing friends about my visit at their places in the evening. But mood became sad somehow!
Ganesh Chaturthi Festival, most favorite festival in India, moreover in Maharashtra, for which people wait every year for long time. The actual date of first Ganesh Chaturthi Festival celebration is unknown but it was being celebrated during the era of beloved King Shivaji Maharaj and Peshwas. Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak had initiated the public celebration of this festival at large scale in the year 1893. The idea behind making it a large scale event was just to unite people together in British ruiling India. Nowadays, it is most famous festival and Indians celebrate all over the world.
Lord Ganesha is the most favorite God of Indian people. Despite of religion, every Indian celebrates this festival with complete devotion. It is close to their heart. Hence, they start preparations quite early to make this festival the best one every year. Workers of Lord Ganesha Idol factories start working 24/7 to build beautiful sculptures of Lord Ganesha. As the festival dates come closer, people start planning for building pandals. Pandals are designed in such a way that they will give either a social message or they will be copy of any specific building in the world mainly from India such as Shaniwar Wada in Pune, Taj Mahal in Agra, Golden Temple in Punjab and Dubai Airport.
Pandals are not only designed at large scale in Public but also they are designed in private celebrations at homes. People start planning for selecting favorite flowers and preparing food items such as modaks which are favourite of their beloved Lord Ganesha. Despite of the poverty, people try hard to celebrate this festival by adjusting their finances to give the best to their God. As families staying far from each other unite for this festival, right from children to elders in the house is eager to welcome Lord Ganesha. They are ready celebrating it in the best way they can.
People welcome Lord Ganesha with fireworks and various bands. They play songs written for Lord Ganesha on loudspeakers till the festival ends. Priests are invited to worship the God and install the idols at home or in public Pandals. As idols are installed, they send invitations to their friends to visit houses take Lord Ganesha darshan and see the various kinds of decorations. People just roam around to see public pandals and private decorations. As Lord Ganesha is most favourite God of Indian people, they can even stand in queue for number of hours to take mukh darshan of God just like in Lalbaugcha Raja at Lalbaug, Mumbai.
The climate is full of Joy. Excitement is everywhere. Lord Ganpati brings happiness to our mind and we pray to him to take away all the sorrows as he is also called by names sukhkarta and vighnavinashak. Every single idol of Lord Ganesha, makes us smile becoz of his peaceful eyes. Celebration of the Ganpati Festival continues till the very last moment. On the last day, it is hard to say such beloved God a goodbye. Even though we are yelling "Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya" with full of energy, our heart is sad inside. Final aarti is the one which seems to be never happened. While singing it, tears start rolling down over the chicks. It is not because of love for the God, but it is because of he is nothing less than a family member. Every year, same situation occurs, when he comes brings joy; when he goes, leaves sadness with us.
It is very hard to write more. Because, end of celebration of this family member, left tears in my eyes. I just pray to God to come early next year so that we can enjoy this festival again by keeping away our sorrows!
Ganpati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya!!!
Sunit S. Pendse
3rd Sept 2014
sunitpendse.blogspot.com
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