Ganesh Chaturthi

Tomorrow is Ganesh Chaturthi and I am feeling so good about it. Although I am not a very religious person, Ganesh Chaturthi brings out all the excitement in me. It has more to do with the festivity of it than the religious content.

Actually when I was at home, Ganesh Chaturthi was not that exciting. Modaks were the highlight of Ganesh Chaturthi!!Making them is tedious but then its worth all the effort. And then Bombay used to have so many Ganapatis. We used to go to Aatya's and Kaka's place for Ganapti. It was one more occassion for a family get-together and it felt better. I always wanted to have Ganapati at home, but then it was not possible at home. I liked the decorations part of it. It would have been a fascinating outlet for my creativity. But then it was not done.

When I was at Kawas, the first time I was out of home at time of Ganesh Chaturthi, I was wondering whether to go home or not, but then I had just returned from a long FTA trip. So I decided to stay back at Kawas. And it was a very good decision.

Date Sir told me about the celebrations that would take place. Barlewar Sir was also very enthusiastic. When we reached the pandal, there were so many people. Deshpande Sir,Kale Sir, Vaidya Sir, Kurpe Sir, Sirasao Sir,Maneji and all with their families. Seeing all the people working together, the women and children in bright festive dresses was such a nice-home like feeling. All welcomed me. I was initially very uncomfortable. I knes only the menfolk with whom I had worked in plant, but here all women were sitting differently. I also was with them but didnt know what to talk about. But then slowly and surely they all made me feel at ease and I was very happy to be chattering away in Marathi.

We had a great time all five days with aartis in morning before going to plant and in evenings. All made many different typical Maharashtrian dishes for the prasad. I had modaks as well!. And then on the Visarjan day we had unlimited fun. We went around the township singing songs and calling people to join us. Finally in a truck and a bus we went to river Tapi. There we had the final pooja. And we said our adieus to Lord Ganapati. After the 'visarjan' we had some snacks, spent some more time on the beach. While returnig we played antakshari and finally we had coffee in the same pandal where we all together had spent the past five wonderful days.

I found another family at Kawas. The first was my batch people, Field Hostel II people, next was my department, Electrical Maintenance and now this Kawas Marathi Mandal.

Ganapati Bappa Morya!!!