Mumbai Ganesh Utsav

Picture taken by yours truly

I was chatting with a non mumbaite friend on Ganesh Utsav celebrations in Mumbai. We were discussing things like non availability of the eco friendly Ganesh idol, Ganesh Utsav as a festival for socialising and the difference in the practices in Mumbai and back home [Chennai for him]. I appraised him that Lokmanya Tilak was the brain behind Sarvajinik Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra. This was the strategy used during the freedom struggle and used as a cover and also to pass on cruicial information and educate people.

However now these Ganesh pandals have converted themselves into mini dens that engage in gambling, have drinking sessions, give cover to gundagiri and are far from anything but social [in the true sense of the word]. Sad but true, and whosoever likes to see drunk men doing lewd dance moves to the tune of ‘mungda’ or ‘chamelibai’ during the visarjan procession. I wonder which god gets appeased by this nonsense.

The culture of lezim dhol pasha, dhotar, sadra, safa and navrais are gone! It is heart-breaking to see this disrespect for the GOD!

My friend then told me that in Chennai only mud idols were available. In Tamil Nadu the festival is designed to use mud got from desilting the lakes and canals before monsoon. This helps the farmers to get more water and potters their livelihood. And after visarjan the idol goes back to the lake and canal after monsoon.Though this is not the sole purpose of the festival. What a profound method I thought!

Everyone talks of the rich cultural heritage of our great country. But how many of us really understand the nuances it offers. Each person/community has an occupation/duty to the society and in turn each person is taken care of. Abundance in thought, methods, festivals and a way of life! That’s all I can say.

I just hope we do not blindly follow everything that the ‘west’ does. In Rujuta Divekar’s words “Bharat ko Raj but Ram Ko vanvas kyon?”

Signing off by saying, Vachav re Ganapati bappa!