Itna Sanatta kyun hain

Ganpati Bappa Morya - It was a busy day. Ganapati Bappa arrived today. Ganesh Utsav is one of the favourite celebrations of all aged groups irrespective of their religion. It is all about decoration, yummy modaks and laddus, fresh flowers, torans, rangoli, and lots of happiness around. Most enjoyable is the aarti time, when everybody oldies, as well as the kids, enjoy saying it, artharvashirsha and jayjaykaar.  

We were rushing doing preparations for a few weeks.  Ten days go busy with delicacies and compliments. The decoration concepts and ideas. Every year all ten days go busy and are surrounded by friends and relatives. We haven't invited any guests this year for Ganesh darshan.

Of course, there will be modaks but no visitors to taste. There will be decoration, aarti but no crowd around. This year it is not going to be louder as it is every year. It will be a bit simple but with the same spirit. Even the Ganpati at home is going to be simple than every year.

I guess Ganpati Bappa must also be feeling lonely saying to himself "Itna Sannata Kyun hain" but will agree on the government norms this year and give his darshan online.

The government gave guidelines for celebration this year. Many big mandals took a step forward for supporting the government’s decision. Some planned social activities instead of the big mandal followed by the crowd to celebrate and take Ganapati Bappa's blessings.

In metro cities, these festivals bring a lot of market movement and options for people to earn. For some, this is the only annual time to earn, like the Idol makers. This year many people have taken initiative to make their own eco-friendly idols. Workshops were taken and a lot of artists have learned the art of making idols.  Idol makers are sad due to a drop in the sale and prices. Next year onwards there would be only eco-friendly idols available in the market as well.

Thou markets were open the business has definitely suffered. People have compromised on the nonavailability of needful things for Ganesh puja. The prominent mandals have encouraged people to avoid visiting the pandals and opted for the online darshan.No matter how big the idol is every year,  this time everybody has agreed on idols not more than four feet and that too eco friendly. 

There are many options for eco-friendly Ganpati like tree Ganpati, red and black soil with natural colors. People have also opted for metal, the permanent idol which would be kept every year. Even many keep chocolate idol and further distribute the chocolates and sweets in an orphanage or children.

Its first time in 86 years that there will be no Lalbaug cha raja, instead they have taken up the blood and plasma donation drive. A similar initiative has been taken by Girgaon cha raja and Andheri cha raja as well.

Many did not travel to their home town and are not part of the celebrations. Things are different than they were ever, but will be soon as they need to be. 

The government has given good and clear instructions about the height of idol not more than four feet, no processions, artificial 70 immersion ponds made available in Mumbai. Not more than five karyakartas in pandals, ten during aarti, pandals to be sanitized thrice a day.NO prasad, no garlands, No flowers at the immersion ponds.

Thou it is an irony that the festival celebrated to bring people together stands to do exactly opposite today. It is a national emergency and we all should collectively contribute to being a responsible citizen so that next year we celebrate more natural and with high spirit.

May Ganpati bappa bless all of us with health and prosperity.