The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

A date with Ganesha away from home
Geetu

NAGPUR, Pune, Mumbai, Akola, Sangli, Nashik are just some of the places to which belong most of the over 150 Maharashtrian families that live in Chandigarh.They have come far away from their homes but in their hearts they carry not only the scent of their hometowns but also the myriad hues of a rich cultural and religious heritage. An important part of this heritage is mirrored in the spirited celebrations organised in the city during Ganeshotsava under the aegis of the Maharashtra Mandal.

The birth of Lord Ganesha is celebrated every year from the fourth teethi (Ganesh Chaturthi) to the 14 teethi (Ananta Chaturdashi) of the Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar with various rituals and cultural programmes culminating with the immersion of the idols in tanks or rivers.

Most Maharashtrian households install small images in their homes and seek blessings of the jovial elephant-headed deity, also known as ‘Vighnaharta’ (remover of all obstacles).Though Ganesha has the first place in worship of any kind, according to popular belief, yet it is only in the southern part of the country that his birth celebrations involve the whole community.

In charge of the celebrations being organised in the city this year is the president of Maharashtra Mandal, Mr Mahadeokar,who has been living here for over 33 years with his family.Various cultural programmes and competitions are a highlight of the celebrations.This gives an opportunity to everyone to showcase their talents, he says.The celebrations will start on August 22 and would end with the visarjan of the idol in the Ghaggar river on August 26. Most of the Maharastrian families residing in the city, SAS Nagar and Panchkula get together to take part in the festivities.

For Mr Sanjay Wadwalkar, former Chairman, Department of Mass Communication, Panjab University, and his family the day has a special significance as it coincides with his birthday. Reminiscing about the fervour which marks the celebrations in the southern part of the country, he says though the celebrations are not on the same scale and the ritual of making new sweets during puja days is missing here, Ganesha, a God dear to his heart, is remembered with reverence and reinstalled for the 10-day festival.The fact that his better half is a Punjabi and his sons have also stayed in the North doesn‘t make a difference to the celebrations.‘‘In fact it is my wife who takes a lead in performing puja and other rituals,’’he adds.

For Mr Jayant Narayanpetkar, the 16-year-long stay in the city has not dimmed the memories of the festivities back home. He gets nostalgic while talking about the festivities in Mumbai and Hyderabad, where the whole city wears a festive look for 10 days with all street corners and nukkads having an idol of the Lord.For him it is not only an auspicious time but also a time to celebrate with friends.

The birth of a daughter has made this year‘s celebrations special for him and his wife.

Sabhya Kunte and wife, Shubhangi, follow the family’s tradition of installing the deity’s idol at home. For Sabhya, who is a defence officer, this is also a ‘no-party’ time. At home too mango leaf toran and rangoli at the entrance welcome the guests.The prasad of 21 modaks, navedya and fruits is offered to the deity daily and satvic conduct is followed by the family.This is a kind of purification ritual which brings peace to the soul, he says.

The same spirit is mirrored by PEC Professor Rajendra Belokar and wife, Sangeeta.While missing the excitement and thrill of hometown Mumbai, Sangeeta finds the prayer and cultural programmes at Maharashtra Bhavan a fitting way to celebrate the occasion.This festival transcends the barriers of caste and region, says Rajendra, recalling how srikhand, modak and puranpoli made by Sangeeta are a hit with their north Indian friends.

‘‘For us Ganesha is a part of our personal life, a God that is too dear to be parted with. Perhaps this explains the contradiction of ‘‘Ganpati Bappa Morya Pudchya Varshi Lavkar Ya’’ which is chanted while immersing the idols at the end of 10-day festivities, urging the departing Lord to come soon next year’’, says Mr Wadwalkar.

God of good things
Sujata Tiwari

THE elephant-headed Ganapati is the most enigmatic of all gods. He is regarded as the leader of all ganas (people), the remover of all obstacles, a divine stenographer (he transcribed the Mahabharata in shorthand) and the harbinger of everything good. Indeed, if ever there can be a multi-purpose god in the Hindu pantheon it has to be this potbellied son of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

In Maharashtra and parts of western India, the festivity accompanying his birth on Ganesh Chaturthi (August 22 this year) day is the most eagerly awaited event on the cultural calendar. It is a community celebration for which preparations are made months in advance with the sculpting of giant images of the deity in clay, erecting of shuge pandals with colourful tableaux and arranging all-night entertainment shows.

This tradition can be attributed to freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who, in 1853, called upon fellow Maharashtrians to hold community (sarvajanik) celebrations for the God as a mark of solidarity against British rule. In time, these became rallying points for the freedom struggle in western India.

According to historical records, the oldest surviving Ganesh celebration in India is the one by ‘Dagru Halwai’ at Pune, dating back to 114 years. "Community celebrations were held even earlier, but over time, they were not continued," informs Sadashiv Rangnekar, a history professor in Bombay University. "In fact, there is historical proof of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations being a tribal festivity. For many aboriginal tribes, Ganesh was an anti-god — a dwarf with an elephant’s head!"

Legend has it that the elephant’s head was thrust upon a perfectly normal child who was keeping guard as his mother, Parvati took her bath. Ever so obedient, the boy did not even allow his father to enter the house at that moment. An infuriated Shiva opened his third eye and the boy’s head was torched to ashes.

Much later, Shiva realised his folly and tried to make amends by finding a replacement for the burnt head. An elephant was passing by and he found its head a convenient substitute. When a horrified Parvati emerged from her bath, Shiva pacified her by announcing that far from then on, in any puja anywhere, people would worship their son first and then other gods. He would be the harbginger of good luck.

Ever since, the blessings of the elephant-headed deity are invoked not only before every puja, but also at the start of any enterprise — be it a business venture, a classical dance recital, the education of a child or even moving into a new house.

The belief is that should there be anything inauspicious or evil, which might pose an opposition to the enterprise, the god would remove such obstacles.

Ganesh’s loyalty towards his mother is explained through another mythological legend. The story goes that Parvati once wanted to know which of her sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya could circumambulate the earth in the shortest possible time. Kartikeya trotted out on his peacock to scour the mountains and seas and bring news of strange lands and people.

Ganesh meanwhile, stayed put at home, refusing to move out. When Parvati came rushing in to inform that Kartikeya was returning from his world tour, Ganesh quickly ran around his mother. His explanation was that by going around his mother, he had not only circumambulated the earth, but had also traversed the universe and cosmos!

It is of such myths and legends that tableaux are designed for Ganesh Chaturthi. The idol too is open to many creative interpretations as it appears alongside Shiva and Parvati, or solo — seated on a lotus, perhaps dressed as a maharaja or playing a musical instrument. Years ago, when Haathi Mera Saathi hit the screen, everybody wanted the idol to look like Rajesh Khanna, in jacket and dark glasses!

This year, a common theme is the Abdagiri Ganesh — the God seated on his mouse and holding a flag inscribed with "Om". Explains Vijay Khatau, an idol maker: "This is Ganesh as a guard of honour. The concept dates back to those days when an elephant bearing the royal banner would make the rounds of a city before the actual arrival of the king. All we are saying is that our idol would be heralding the arrival of Lord Ganesh in our midst." (MF)

Make your own Ganapati idol

THOUGH Ganesha idols of all sizes and in a variety of materials can be easily bought from the umpteen curio and handicraft shops, yet nothing can match the joy of making one and gifting it to a dear one or keeping it for oneself.With a little bit of ingenuity and imagination you can easily make a beautiful idol at home. Here are some ideas to activate your creativity. So don your creative caps and set to work and we are sure you will spring some surprises for friends and family this festive season.

The first method involves the use of materials considered auspicious in a puja. These include rice, supari, rudraksh seeds, cloves,elaichi etc.Take a piece of ply and draw the Ganesha figure on it. Apply fevicol or bondgrib and fill the figure with rice.Use cloves to give an outline and decorate the margins with alternate rows of shells, mirrors, rudraksh seeds and mirrors.With a thick brush, colour the figure with fabric paints. Colour cloves and rudraksh seeds with metallic colours. Fill the background with glitter or coloured rice for that rich effect.

Terracotta and ceramic tiles can also be used as a background. Draw the figure on the tile with a tailor’s marker and fill with putti to give a raised effect. It sticks easily with fevicol.Outline with mirrors or powder glitter and colour with enamel or fabric paints.The terracotta tile can also be given an antique touch with the use of dark shades and copper dust.

— Vandana Sharma