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Ganpati Bappa Morya...
When Mumbai is getting immersed in the fervour of Ganpati celebrations, we catch with up with a few TV stars and quiz them on how they plan to celebrate this Maharashtrian festival... Most stars we spoke to said that although they would love to keep Ganpati bappa for all the ten days, time constraint forces them to have it just for a day-and-a-half. Sai Deodhar, who's mom keeps Ganpati for five days, says that she will install a big statue, as small ones don't impress her. Mansi Salvi on the other hand, believes that more then the size, it's the devotion that counts. Although Ganpati is supposed to be for the Marathi manus, more and more people from other castes, are also joining in the festival. Sheetal Thakkar's family has been keeping Ganpati for the past many years. Similarly Munisha Khatwani who so far has never kept Ganpati feels that this year, she just might install the idol at her place. Manasi Salvi felt that it was really nice that people of different communities were coming together as a result of this festival. Sai pointed out that how different castes, have incorporated their own cultural mores to this festival "Punjabi's chadao a chuni to the idol and even do the jagran as well. Shweta Salve who has not been able to keep Ganpati for the last few years said that forget Hindus there are many Muslim families who bring the idol to their homes and ask for mannat. Both Sai and Mansi follow all the rites and ritual ie nevidya associated with the festival. Sai knows all the mantras (Hanuman chalisa, Ram Raksha sutra) and shloks by heart. "My dad made me remember them as a child," she avers. Sheetal's house has a priest come in twice a day to do all the prayers. "Even if I don't know by heart, it does not mean that I have less love and regard for Vinayaka," she reasons.
Mansi fondly remembered her childhood when she and her cousins would love to take part in all the decorations and sweet making. "We would help to make the plant leaves on which the Prasad is kept. I would follow mummy when she would decorate the small mandir at our old house," she chuckles. Sai is really looking forward to Ganpati as this year, it would be her first Ganpati after marriage and she will leave no stone unturned to make her mandir look really beautiful. "We Deodhars are know for the splendour of our Ganpati over the years and people always talk about how differently we do every year," she states. Shweta Salve said that it was very sad that many people still do not know the origin behind this festival, they think it has been going around for centuries, but it was Lokmanya Tilak who stared the public celebration in 1884, as a mean of uniting the people. After the one-and-a-half-day period is over, the stars try to find time from their busy shooting schedules to go and visit the large number of Ganpati pandals that dot Mumbai city during this festival. Munisha says that she will surely go to see Lalbag ka raja, as he is supposed to be a very powerful deity and if you ask him anything with a true heart, he will definetly grant it to you. Shital too would visit the pandal next to her house, as its difficult to travel during these days. "Besides, after a two day break from work I cannot ask for more holidays," she grins. The growing commercialisation of all festivals including Ganpati did hurt the TV celebrities. Mansi, however, is of the firm opinbion that Ganpati will punish those people who extort money in his name. Shital said at least in recent years, mandals have stopped airing raunchy filmy song which had earlier become a norm "only devotion songs should be played." The recent incident of Ganpati drinking milk amused the stars, they blamed the media for focusing too much on such incidents and thereby giving credence to such superstitions. Says Mansi, "My Ganpati is powerful he does not need to drink milk to show that he is there, as some people are saying." Discussing the status of Ganpati among the Gods, Shweta said Vinayak is considered the most loving and easy to please God hence whenever there is any trouble he is invoked. Munisha pointed that don't we always say Shri Ganesh, before staring any new undertaking. Ganpati has also become an occasion for friends and family to meet, Mansi says that it's only during these days, that she actually gets a chance to meet some of her relatives. Sheetal seconded Mansi by saying that as everybody is so busy in their own life, festivals like Ganpati are God send for old friends to connect. "Last year my old school friend who I had not met for years; came over for darshan," she avers. Talking about immersing the idol Sai says "When we go for visarjan, I feel as if somebody from my family is going way." Shital also cries when its time to bide adieu to Ganesha. Pudcha varshi lavakar ya was the clarion call of all. How can we finish an article on Ganpati without a reference to modak, Ganaraya's favourite food. Sai just loves the sweet ball. "I can eat as many, as I can lay my hands on," she laughs while Shweta says that as a child she would wait for Ganpati just to eat modak.
When Mumbai is getting immersed in the fervour of Ganpati celebrations, we catch with up with a few TV stars and quiz them on how they plan to celebrate this Maharashtrian festival... Most stars we spoke to said that although they would love to keep Ganpati bappa for all the ten days, time constraint forces them to have it just for a day-and-a-half. Sai Deodhar, who's mom keeps Ganpati for five days, says that she will install a big statue, as small ones don't impress her. Mansi Salvi on the other hand, believes that more then the size, it's the devotion that counts. Although Ganpati is supposed to be for the Marathi manus, more and more people from other castes, are also joining in the festival. Sheetal Thakkar's family has been keeping Ganpati for the past many years. Similarly Munisha Khatwani who so far has never kept Ganpati feels that this year, she just might install the idol at her place. Manasi Salvi felt that it was really nice that people of different communities were coming together as a result of this festival. Sai pointed out that how different castes, have incorporated their own cultural mores to this festival "Punjabi's chadao a chuni to the idol and even do the jagran as well. Shweta Salve who has not been able to keep Ganpati for the last few years said that forget Hindus there are many Muslim families who bring the idol to their homes and ask for mannat. Both Sai and Mansi follow all the rites and ritual ie nevidya associated with the festival. Sai knows all the mantras (Hanuman chalisa, Ram Raksha sutra) and shloks by heart. "My dad made me remember them as a child," she avers. Sheetal's house has a priest come in twice a day to do all the prayers. "Even if I don't know by heart, it does not mean that I have less love and regard for Vinayaka," she reasons.
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