GANESH CHATURTHI : Time Of Rejoicing And Reverence

Ganesha is the ever-present deity of India. On wedding invitations, at street come shrines, in carved doorway and in every temple, he is represented in many carvings sculptures and paintings.

On the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad, the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi comes to India. Months ahead, with great excitement ana enthusiasm, hundreds ofusands of clay idols of Ganesha are made in Bombay, Pune and Pen, a village full of clay sculptors, near Bombay. Lorryloads of idols of every size, in every pose and colour, are brought to Bombay and other towns. These are worshipped at community or family festivals which last between one to ten days according to each group's tradition.

Till the last century, Ganesh Chaturthi, like many other Indian festivals, was largely a family celebration. It was the renowned patriot Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who recognised and used its appeal amongst India's vast population to create a public festival and thereby propagate the struggle for independence. Freedom Is My Birthright', was his electric call and in order to reach out to to India's struggling millons, he innovated community worship where popular plays, songs and and discourses on freedom were staged.

Started in 1892 by this great visionary, the communiy Ganesha festival completed a centenary in 1992. A grand event was organized in Pune during which the foremost artists of lndia performed. Bullock cart races, car displays, wrestling, trekking, swimming galas and costume extravaganzas were organized on a mammoth scale by a committee of eminent citizens. This tourist and media event with everyone participating in it irrespective of religious belief, has now become an annual celebration of Pune city. [Opposite page] In the western state ofMaharashtra, Ganesha Chaturthi is a magnificent event. Numerous community celebrations centre around huge idols which are taken for ceremonial immersion after 10 days of music, dance, theatre, feasts and fun.

Side by side, for over a century, small idols of Ganesha have been worshipped by families during this festival not only in Maharashtra, but all over India too. Steamed modaks, sweets made from flour and stuffed with coconut and sugar, vegetables of the season as well as other festive dishes, are made for several days and shared by families and their guests. By the fifth day of the festival, idols of Gauri or Parvati are made in many homes for worship. Devotees lovingly make delicate jewellery and clothes for such idols and display them year after year. The Ganesha idols are then immersed on the second, fifth, seventh or 11th day. Ananta Chaturdashi, or the day preceding the full moon day ofBhadrapad, brings one phase of the Chaturmaas festive season to an end and in picturesque processions, amidst the rhythm of bells and drums, all Ganesha idols are immersed by midnight.

Two popular legends are associated with Ganesha. The first relates the story of Ganesh Chaturthi and the second is greatly relevant to modern life.

According to a myth, Ganesha was invited to a feast by Indra, the god of the skies. Mounting his vehicle, a mouse, the rotund Ganesha began his journey to the palace of Indra. But because the mouse could not carry his weight, he lost his balance and fell. The moon, shining in the night sky, laughed at him. Angered by this insult, Ganesha broke off his left tusk and thew it at the moon, causing a dent in its surface. Ganesha was left with only one tusk and is thus called Ekadanta or 'with one tooth'. Ganesha also spoke a curse on the moon - that whoever looked at it on the Ganesh Chaturthi night, would undergo privations, Consequently even today, devotees avoid looking at the moon on Ganesha's days.

The idols of Ganesha are made in various poses and colours for the festival. Communities of sculptors work for months to meet the vast demand. There are contests with rich prizes for the best decoration and housands of community organizations in Bombay, Pune and other Maharashtrian cities vie for the honours.

The second legend illustrates Ganesha's devotion to his parents and his wisdom. A Puranic myth relates how sage Narada once came to Kailasa, the abode of Shiva, with a rare fruit from the heavenly gardens of Nandanvain In the manner of children all over the worldl both Kartikeya and Ganesha, asked for it. Narada asked both sons of Shiva to race each other around the universe, and told them that the first one to return to Kailasa would get the fruit. Kartikeya immediately set out on his peacock, but Ganesha merely went round his parents who were sitting nearby and came back to Narada to claim the fruit saying that his parents were his universe. His devotion to his parents was such that he won the fruit as well as the blessings of his parents and Narada.

The first day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad ushers in period of austere and quiet homage to one's ancestors. Pitrupaksha or the fortnight dedicated to deceased elders, is quiet break in the procession of festive days of feasting during the four monsoon months. During this period, shradh or memorial rituals are conducted by families till the new moon day which is called the Sarvapitri Amavasya or the dark night of all souls.