Bringing Ganpati Home

||श्री||

|| अतिथि देवो भव || -  Atithi Devo Bhava 

- We extend our hospitality to our guests as we would to our Gods...

and when the Lord himself is about to grace your humble abode in guise of  a guest, 

what would you do?

The most awaited festival of Mumbai (and Maharashtra) is here! The entire city is Euphoric on arrival of the Lord loved by one and all - Ganpati/Ganesh. The sound of Nashik Dhol with the cries of 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' pervades each and every street. 

Preparations of Ganeshotsav or Ganpati festival begins well before the arrival of the Lord. Ganesh Chaturthi (4th day) of Bhadrapad month of Hindu calender (09 September 2013) marks the beginning of this 11 days long festival. While larger deities adorn big pandals, many people also bring smaller deities of Ganesh to their homes for 1 1/2, 3, 5, 7 0r 11 days. 

Bringing Ganpati home for a few days provides an outlet for an individual's love and devotion for the Lord. It is an opportunity to connect with the divine on a personal level. 

Markets are full of beautiful Ganesh idols before the beginning of the festival. 

This year 'Eco-friendly' Ganpati made up of clay have been in more demand, as opposed to the ones made with Plaster of Paris which do not disintegrate easily. Seems like the Lord of Knowledge has finally blessed people with wisdom to protect and conserve nature. 

Imagine a Heart's joys when the creator of the Universe in guise of a little Idol allows itself to be carried by it devotees. The Divine in the mortal form becomes vulnerable; the protector of the world is now protected by his devotees and the one who feeds every living organism is fed little modaks. 

Faces of Ganesha Idols, are covered with a cloth while bringing them home, to protect them from people's evil eyes. The Almighty, for the love of his devotees, accepts to be vulnerable.

The Ganesha Idols vary in size from a few inches to about 20 feet! people carry them in their hands, on push carts, cars and Trucks, depending on the size. 

with the beats of Nashik Dhol, Lord Ganpati with his devotees cheerfully dancing and chanting his name, travels towards pandals and homes.

In Bhagvad Gita (9.26) Krishna says to Arjun -

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." 

The meaning is what, and deeper than what, it appears. No matter how humble the offering is, the Lord will accept anything offered with love and devotion. 

The offerings are in order of one's spiritual evolution 

- a leaf represents the mere physical action,

- a flower is a devoted mind, a higher level of spiritual connection,

- a Fruit is even higher state of spiritual evolution, where the mind yet recognises itself with

the body. 

- Water is the highest level of spiritual evolution - Transparent and pure, a drop does not differentiate itself with the other, takes the shape of whatever container it is stored in, and continuously travels towards the Sea. 

For the next 11 days Ganesha blesses his devotees with his presence and accepts their humble offerings full of love and devotion. 

Visit the City once during this Festival, and you'll never forget the experience!

|| Ganpati Bappa Morya ||