Nomad Lens: Mumbai Ganapati Visarjan

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A Hindu festival that was once only limited to people's homes was transformed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak to bring people together and spread awareness and the result was Grand scale celebrations of Ganeshotsav/Ganapati Festival; which with time, has grown larger than life! Ganapati Visarjan is the perfect time to witness the scale of this Mega-festival of Maharashtra.

For 10 days Lord Gananapati is celebrated with great devotion and Zeal. Huge Pandals decorated like palaces witness cultural programs including Bhajan recitals and Dance performances.

Devotees stand in long ques for hours to get a glimpse of their beloved deity, for Darshan/sight that inspires a spiritual connection with the divine. Its not uncommon to find tears trickle down someone's cheeks at such a time and place.

At some places, even fairs are held. Usually such big Pandals celebrate the festival for 11 days, some for even 21 days! The city immerses itself in excitement and exhilaration of the festival.

Letting go someone you love is difficult, yetnecessary...for how will we meet again, if we never part ways? One may argue, If according to Hinduism, God resides within us how can we ever part ways? The answer is simple - a drop though is one with Ocean when in ocean, alone it travels the world to finally again be one with the Ocean. In body, we too are just a drop, a part but apart.

Towards the end of the festival, Mumbaikars prepare to bid adieu to their beloved Ganesha, with a hope to see him soon the next year. With Dance and Music, with Drums and firecrackers, huge processions accompany Ganapati to bid farewell.

Ganpati images from homes are brought out with cries of "Ganapati Bappa morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya". The latter half translates as "come back soon again the next year", while the former half goes much deeper.

Morya Gosavi was a famous devotee of Lord Ganesh in 14th century. The words 'Ganpati Bappa Morya' depict the inseparable relationship between a Devotee and God. Today, all Devotees of Lord Ganesh are called Morya.
while the smaller Images are carried by people in their hands, the bigger ones ride on Trucks and other vehicles.

The procession is no less than a King's Parade. The carnival travels slowly, inching its way towards the Sea, where the Lord's images are immersed. People dance all the way on the beats of drums (with changing times, on DJ's music too)

One of the best spots to be at during Ganesh Visarjan is near Versova Beach. The number of different Ganesha images one gets to see here in a small interval of time is mind blowing! With camera in my hands, I was at the perfect spot at perfect time...until it started to drizzle. It was time to cover the Images to protect them. Oh wait! weren't these people taking the Ganesha images to be immersed in water afterall? Yes, but you don't just push your guests out of your house and get rid of them; you lovingly see them off, atleast the ones you are so fond of.

Its a sea of People out there on the night of Ganpati Visarjan, literally!Thanks to Mumbai Police, BMC staff and volunteers of various NGOs, this Mega-event goes smoothly. People travel with Ganesha Images on trucks as well as walk behind the trucks. This goes on till late night. The energy of this city on this day is amazing!