City readies for ganesha festival
By - Vaibhavi Kulkarni

Human beings are inclined to turn to God in times of crisis a tendency that was aptly reflected during the earthquake. For weeks after the quake, there were havans and pujans being organised in every nook and corner of the city. Almost eight months later, it is time again to invoke the Gods, and who better than Lord Ganesha, vighnaharta, or the one who keeps away the troubles.

Ganeshchaturthi, celebrated as birthday of Lord Ganesha is one of the most important festivals of Maharashtrian community. Ganesh pratisthapana will take place at almost all Maharashtrian homes while those who do not bring their Lord at home, will worship him at Sarvajanik sthapana (community worship of Lord Ganesha).

This year the concept of Sarvajanik sthapana seems to have really caught on, with the idols of Lord Ganesha placed at over 200 areas in the city. Ganesh Utsav is no longer just a Maharashtrian festival and people of all communities, especially Gujaratis are looking forward to celebrating it with fervor.

According to Ravindra Chandorkar, president of Memnagar Maharashtra Mandal, the number of non-Maharashtrians who were present during the morning aarti and Ganesh sthapana was exceptionally high. "Usually we have a few curious bystanders but this year many Gujaratis walked up to the organisers and asked when the aarti will be held and how they can participate in the function," he said.

There was a time when Ganesh Utsav was celebrated only in some localities dominated by Maharashtrian families like Dakshini society. Other handful of places where the festival was celebrated included Bhadra, Raipur and Maharashtrian society. But take a look around you this year and you are bound to see a Ganesha idol in almost every area of the city Vastrapur, Sola Road, Ambavadi, Memnagar, Maninagar, Bapunagar, Naranpura and Kokhra to name a few.

Jayant Athavale, who has been living in Gujarat for past 30 years, said, "We always brought Ganpati home during Ganeshchaturthi and occasionally went to Bhadra to celebrate sarvajanik Ganpati. But over the years, Ganeshchaturthi is being celebrated at increasing number of areas.

This time not only did my neighbors express interest in participating in evening aarti at my home, there was a large crowd even at Ankur society where idol of Ganpati was placed." So what has prompted this interest in Ganeshchaturthi this year? Mukta Sheth, who has plans to attend the aarti in the evening at Ambavadi, said, "Before we start any auspicious work, Ganpati puja is conducted. Ganesha is called sukhkarta, dukhharta (who brings happiness and takes away sorrow). Gujarat has faced many natural calamities and somehow worshipping Ganapati reassures me."

Other than religious satisfaction, this festival also gives a feeling of solidarity, since one of the highlights of Ganesh Utsav is the cultural programmes organised in the evening. The trend was started by Lokmanya Tilak a century ago to increase the feeling of nationality and togetherness against rising colonial propaganda.

Since the earthquake has made Amdavadis more sensitive to the need for community bonding, any sort of social gathering reassures them and gives them a sense of belonging. Regardless of the reason behind the increasing interest in celebrations, because of high degree of interactivity, these ten-days of Ganesh Utsav promise to be much more exciting and fulfilling.

Republished from The Asian Age