Rediff.com’s Hitesh Harisinghani joins the Patkar family as they say goodbye to Lord Ganesha.
It's that time of the year when joyous cries of Ganpati Bappa Morya ring across the country!
Salil Patkar and his family invited me to visit their Bappa and be a part of the visarjan after one-and-a-half days (some bring Lord Ganpati home for one-and-a-half days, some for three, some for seven and some for 10 days). And I am glad they did.
"This is the 25th year we have brought Bappa home.
“Our Bappa is usually 16 to 18 inches tall and is made with mud so He’s eco-friendly," says 42-year-old Salil who stays, and runs his own business, in Andheri, northwest Mumbai.
Preparations at the Patkar household begin one month before Ganesh Chaturthi, says Salil. "We book the idol one month in advance and decorations are prepared about 15 days before we bring Him home.
"The prasad and food cooked during these one-and-a-half days has been same for the last 25 years.
“It's a great time for us as our family and friends visit," says Salil's mom, Gauri Aunty, who generously offered me a special Goud Saraswat Brahmin dish, Hrishichi Bhaji (it is made with a mix of veggies except brinjal, cabbage and cauliflower).
The final aarti before the family leaves for the visarjan
The stapana of Bappa’s parents, Parvati and Mahadev, takes place a day before Bappa arrives.
“Parvati is taken out of the house for visarjan before Bappa comes as it would hurt him to see his mother taken away,” explain the Patkars.
This was something I had never seen before.
After one-and-a-half days, the Patkar family says goodbye to Bappa.
The Mumbai Police, as usual, are superb at crowd management.
Dear Readers, all have our own ways of welcoming the Vignaharta.
How are you celebrating Ganeshotsav this year?
Have you brought Lord Ganesha home or will you be visiting Him at the residence of your family and friends?
If He is visiting your home, do you have a theme? Have you made the idol yourself?
Is there a favourite prasad you make for Lord Ganesha? Do share the recipe and pictures with us.
Will you go pandal hopping? Or do you have an unforgettable memory related to Lord Ganesha? We'd love to hear about it.
Please send your Ganpati 2024 pictures to getahead@rediff.co.in (Subjectline: My Lord Ganesha).
Do mention your Name and Where You Live. Do tell us Why Lord Ganesha has a special place in your heart.
