Ganpati Bappa Morya

Faith carries tremendous power. Its an old saying that a physically challenged person can cross mountain with the power of his ! Come September, it is time for Ganesh Chaturthi, another occasion for faith building, when the entire city falls in the magic spell of Ganapati. He is the lord of people, powerful and easily approachable God. Whether it is lane full of jhopadpatti, small society, big society or any cross road, maidan one can find eye catching mud idol of Ganesh, and the devotees flocks morning evening chanting Ganpati Bappa Morya. Real magic of faith unfold every day, till this mud idol of Ganesh immersed in sea. See any Ganesh Idol, the skilled craftman create magic in mud, the mud takes shape of divinity. I am seeing Ganpati year after year from last 25 years. Scale of public Ganpati celebration has gone much higher, modest to extravagent. From a budget of few hundred/ thousand to multi crore. Now we have so many pandals where raja and maharaja Ganpati sits, few examples : Lalbaghcha Raja, Andheri ka Raja, Vile Parlecha Peshwa, Tulsiwadicha Maharaja, Behrambagh ka Raja. There is also Mumbaicha Raja Ganeshgalli at Lal bagh, but Lalbaghcha Raja stand out among them. Other mandals are scrambling to put a Raja, maharaja tag to attract more moolah which may be in crores. I do not say those who organise Ganpati pandals are dishonest people but most of these converting the whole process in money minting commercial proposition. Avdhoth Gupte in his film Morya tried to expose darker side of Ganpati mandals in the city.He shows that one Mandal stoops so low against the nearby Mandal that it resorts crooked means. One of the tricks used to attract devotees is by cooking up stories about their idol hosting raunchy song competitions. And the politicians flock these mandals to grab opportunity to further their own agenda. In this sordid drama the festival, faith and devotion takes back seat. Despite invasion of commercialism in Ganpati festivities, devotees still derive lot of solace and spiritual comfort . Whether it is XYZ place cha Raja/ Maharaja or an ordinary size Ganesh Idol, it has to be immersed in sea. So the immersion is a great leveler ! Come immersion day (or days) so to any beach in Mumbai, for few moment you will feel that the entire city flocked there. The tears in the eyes and chanting Ganpati Bappa Morya Purcha Varshi Lokariya while immersing idol, only seeing is believing for an outsider. No where on earth you will find such an emotional departing of mud idol ! Saluting the Power of peoples lord i.e. Ganesh.