Ganesh Chaturthi on September 10 is the first festival of the season and disciples of Ganpati Bappa cannot keep calm. The celebrations are usually huge in Mumbai but given the pandemic protocols in place, things are going to be different, much like last year. We got chatty with a few celebrities who told us about the festival, its significance for them, most memorable Ganpati celebration moment, and their celebration plans this year amid the virus scare. Some of them, who are not from Mumbai, also shared their experience of being introduced to the festival in the city where the celebrations are always grand and beautiful.
JASMIN BHASIN: Since the time I came to Bombay, I have been witnessing these wonderfully huge Ganpati celebrations. In my home town Kota, Rajasthan, I have seen Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations but in Mumbai the fervour is different. This city is filled with a complete festive atmosphere but given the pandemic scenario strict social distancing should be maintained and the celebration should be low key. I will visit a few friends who bring Ganpati home.
KAVERI PRIYAM: I am super excited that Ganpati is coming. Ganpati Bappa will soon be visiting our homes again and now that the pandemic situation has somewhat eased, rules have been relaxed, I think this time it will be a little more fun. I know it won’t happen like it used to before the pandemic but at least we can visit our friend’s house peacefully.
NIVEDITA BASU: Ganpati is one of my most favourite festivals because of my husband as his side of the family has been celebrating it for the past 27 years. They usually keep Ganesha home for a day and a half because for them it is like they don’t even visit anyone’s house, not even the neighbours as they avoid leaving Ganpati alone. But they have a lot of guests home during these two days. But last year was different, so is this year. Hence, I will visit my friends Arjun Bijlani, Sharad Malhotra and Vipul Mehta’s houses. I will also visit Ekta’s [Kapoor] place. I would urge everyone to avoid stepping out much keeping the third wave in mind and celebrate at home.
SNEHA NAMANANDINI: I understand that keeping Ganpati at home is a belief system and when you believe in something strongly it definitely converts into magic. Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival of togetherness, we bring Ganpati home every year. And the positivity and grace that enters in our lives during this period is immense. My family looks forward to celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi every year. This year too we will do the same and I must admit that so far 2021 has been one of my best years with the blessings of Bappa.
DELNAAZ IRANI: I have always been an ardent fan of Lord Ganesha. Being a south Bombay girl there is an entire culture of Ganesh Chaturthi which is celebrated with much fervour, happiness, love, colour and laughter. Though I am a Parsi, one fine day I thought I also wanted Ganpati bappa home and this happened two years back. This will be the third year when we will be having Ganpati home but because of the pandemic the celebration will be low key. If Bappa wants he will continue coming home and we will be continuing with the rituals. I pray to the Lord to give all good health, peace and a Covid free world.
ARPIT RANKA: Ganpati is special to me as my elder kid was born during Ganpati. Though I have been in Mumbai for the last 18 years, but, four years back we went to actor Parag Tyagi’s home during Ganpati and my wife Nidhi told me that why not we also start celebrating the festival. Since then every year, Ganpati Bappa stays with us for two days. Ganpati gives us a lot of positivity, and the best vibes that we need during these troubled times. This year we are getting a Bal Ganpati home and he will be with us for two days. During this time I cheat on my diet and eat modak to my heart's content. Since last year the celebrations have been low key and this year too we will be careful. Cases are rising again so we need to be cautious and with full precautions we will celebrate the festival. My son is also excited as he loves the festival. He is a foodie too. Hoping and praying that Bappa removes this Covid from our lives.
SAGAR PAREKH: Given the pandemic this time too the scenario will be very different in Mumbai, where Ganpati is the most important festival. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, who is the symbol of prosperity, wisdom and good fortune. The significance of this festival is that it brings a new start in our lives. I don’t get Ganpati home but I do visit my friend’s place. I am a devotional person so I love the festivals especially enjoy going pandal hopping and enjoy the creativity that one gets to see in the pandals in terms of decoration, theme and lighting. I was introduced to this festival thoroughly only when I came to Mumbai from. Blessings from Lord Ganesha gave me wisdom and prosperity. One year in particular, I went to Pune to hear the sound of the dhol that is being played during this festival and also experienced the huge crowd of girls playing huge dhols. It was really fascinating.
MEERA DEOSTHALE: Ganpati celebration, which used to be extremely huge, has reduced considerably given the pandemic. Social distancing and following protocols is more important than lavish celebrations. I get Ganpati every year. I even paint our murti myself and even my mom makes mithais. But given the scenario this year, I am not getting Ganpati and also because my mom is out of town. I will celebrate it with a simple puja at home and maybe visit one or two of my friends who would bring Ganpati home.
SHINY DOSHI: I was born on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi so my family celebrates my birthday on this day as well. So l have two birthdays every year, once during Ganesh Chaturthi, and the other on the date I was born. I have many amazing memories of celebrating the festival. Ganapati is my favourite God. Whenever I am in any kind of crisis or problem, I just close my eyes and pray to him and also think of Siddhivinayak and everything falls in place. When I was born, I actually didn’t have one ear. It was just skin there but no shape and it was grey in colour. When I was born, everyone said Ganesh ji came home. While growing up my ears took shape and it got its colour also. If you look closely, my left ear is slightly bigger than the right one. Ganesh Chaturthi is a very special festival for me, given that I was born and raised in Mumbai. This year, I would not be in town but Bappa is always with me in my heart and prayers. I want to pray that everything is normal, people get jobs and become happy and we get back our Covid world.
VIJAYENDRA KUMERIA: I feel very positive even with the thought of Ganpati festival. Bappa is the Vignaharta and when he comes and solves all the problems. I always pray and ask him to take away all the negativity in the world and make this world a better place. Bringing bappa home has been the fondest memory of the festival for me, the celebration, the arti and the vibe at my place used to be different when we all could do it along with our loved ones around. I got him home for three consecutive years. This time too we will do puja at home and won’t step out or have guests coming given to the Covid scenario. Fortunately outside my set in film city we have a big Ganpati idol, I will pray over there every day. I had seen Ganpati celebrations on TV and in films before I came to Mumbai and became a part of it for the first time when my then girlfriend, who is my wife now, introduced me to this celebration in a proper way.
GAURAV S BAJAJ: This is my favourite festival and best ten days of my life in a year. I feel very positive and it’s going to be a little different due to the pandemic, but I feel it will be much easier than last year because I will be spending the time with my family in my home town. We celebrate it for 10 days, and on the 10th day it gives me so much positivity. I am very lucky that Bappa always gives me something or the other when this festival comes and this year already I have received the offer of this brilliant wedding song titled Dholna, I feel grateful and blessed. Every year there is a different memory, but last year, while we were in our hometown, Indore, me and my wife made eco-friendly Ganpati idol and decorated it beautifully. After Visarjan in the mud we sowed a Tulsi plant. I always bring Ganpati ji home and keep him for 11 days. My family have been doing this for the last 38 years. This year we have planned to bring Ganesh ji home in a different way. There is a well known temple in Indore where many of us keep our Ganpati idol and not immerse the same in water. So we will be bringing our idol of the Lord that we have kept in the temple home. Ganpati celebrations are huge in Indore too, big pandals are erected. When we used to live at our old house at that time my father used to celebrate it for the entire colony, but now we try to visit that place once because from where it all started. This festival means another parallel world to me.
PARULL CHAUDHRY: Ganesh Chaturthi means beginning of festive season, good vibes and festivities all around. Ganpati Bappa is vighnaharta and the one God I pray to every morning. I will mostly be shooting every day as I am doing two shows. But definitely make an effort to visit my close friends and their ganpati, offer prayers and eat prasad. Celebrations are definitely low key this year and that’s important due to the current covid scenario, after all safety comes first. Even Bappa wants us to stay safe. I would just want to pray to Bappa that we get out of the covid situation soon, and resume our normal life. People have lost jobs and are struggling for finances. Hope all of this gets sorted soon. Also the Afghanistan scenario is heartbreaking. I hope and pray that the world heals.
SHARAD MALHOTRA: I've been getting Ganpati home since the last 11 years. I feel attached to Lord Ganesha and the fervour in the city of Mumbai during the festival is unparalleled. I will be following all protocols. My mom has especially come for this festival. It is usually for one and a half days. I would be celebrating it with my family and close friends. Since it's the pandemic time everyone should follow the protocols.
AVINASH MUKHERJEE: I am very excited about the Ganpati festival. We will be bringing Ganpati home and celebrate this for five days like every year. Bappa is a vighnaharta and as we all know about the present situation, it is much better than what it was last year, so now more people are healthy, recovering, and life is getting back to normal, people are getting employed, shows and films are being made, so I would pray to the Lord that this good time continues. Significance of this festival is huge for us as well because we believe in Bappa and visit our relatives and they also come home. It’s a most loved and cherished moment for all of us taking Ganpati ji’s blessings.
HIMANSHU ASHOK MALHOTRA: For me Ganpati is always closest to my soul. I have been bringing Ganpati home for years and kept him for one and half days. But in between I could not because of the shoots. This time too I am probably going to miss bringing Bappa home because of my shoot. The first time when I came to Mumbai, I actually saw how Ganpati is being celebrated because in Delhi nobody celebrated Ganpati like it is done here, so I totally loved it. I go to my friends place, pray, attend the aarti and eat sweets as I love to do the puja. It’s always beautiful to connect with Bappa... This time somehow I will try to visit Lalbaughcha Raja and this will be my most memorable Ganpati darshan. I will be going to Naman Shah house as he will be bringing Ganpati home. The first time I got introduced to this festival, I totally loved it, and still cherish my first visarjan amid the sound of puneri dhol and all the dancing.
Image Source: Prashant Golecha, Instagram/kaveripriyam_official/jasminbhasin2806/snehanamanandi/officialdelnaazirani/arpitranka/sagarparekh0111/meera.deosthale/shinydoshi15/vijayendrakumeria/gauravsbajaj/parullchaudhry/sharadmalhotra009/avinashmukherjee_/himanshuashokmalhotra
Image Source: Prashant Golecha, Instagram/kaveripriyam_official/jasminbhasin2806/snehanamanandi/officialdelnaazirani/arpitranka/sagarparekh0111/meera.deosthale/shinydoshi15/vijayendrakumeria/gauravsbajaj/parullchaudhry/sharadmalhotra009/avinashmukherjee_/himanshuashokmalhotra