Meet my best friend!
Posted 23rd August 2009 at 12:10 AM by malspie
Ganesha festival is something I never miss. I have a special connection with him! He is my playmate, my friend! He demands many things prior to the festival; I hunt and get it for him.
I can see him getting ready to descend on earth and be with his friends here, who love him eternally. Some enjoy his form, some his pandals, some love the razzmatazz associated with the festival, some take it as an opportunity to meet friends and relatives, and some enjoy the Prasad, while some love to boast their wealth and their possessions!
Ganesha overlooks all this petty notions of his devotees, he is happy, like a child, everyone is visiting him, offering him modak, sindhur, coconut! He enjoys the feast ignoring his amma Paravthi’s warning of not to overeat!
He loves his devotees and cares a damn of all the warnings he got from his parents. He is ready to face the wrath of his dada Shivji, only for his devotees.
He waits for this one week as he finds another home and it is nowhere other than the mighty happening dream city of India- Mumbai.
Festoons, gulal, sindhur, music, dancers, stage drama, elaborated stage decoration, pandals, tight security, huge donations which comes in gold, diamonds, cash and some just offer their eyes laden with tears! God, I have nothing, please forgive me, is what they say! He is smiling at all of them – the rich and the poor! He does not understand the discrimination. He has got nothing to do with the rich offerings, but like a true father, brother and friends takes it from his devotees and returns to them in the form of charitable trusts, hospitals, etc.. which the trust runs on his name! Huge donations pour in, Ganesha is happy!
His visit to this earth has reaped some benefit so what if it is offered in disguise of some NEED! Ganesha does not mind such bargain. Yes, give me, he says, I enjoy taking it from you. You will never give me if I ask you, I want it, so I make you crave for something which is loaded with illusion and has nothing to do with you as you are not going to take it with you, when you visit me on THAT DAY! But, I do not make you think in that aspect, just fill your heart with need and greed and force you to donate money, diamonds, gold, which I can return to my devotees who are less fortunate for you beings on this earth but are actually rich in MY WORLD!
He is my best friend, I enjoy talking to him. He has actually come to visit me too! It may sound hilarious to few, but the fact is he has come! My mom was very upset when she knew about Ganesha’s visit. I have been praying for years and he has never visited me, she lamented. Am I fortunate, if you ask, I would say, yes, I am.
It has been 12 years since I have taken the reins of performing Ganesh Puja except for one year in between, the year he took my mom with him, to give her a better place than she deserved. In the last 12 years, not once I have sat out (periods and all that ladies stuff!). The due date has coincided with Chaturthi, but it will happen only after I offer him puja, one such year was 2008, where I had to put up special prayer for keeping it at bay till I finish my puja! He made it happen, I glided through the puja rituals smoothly, nothing to worry, he whispered in my ears! I am there for you, he assured!
It was one of those trying times of my life, where I could not even cry as being the eldest in the family, I should learn to hold tears and be strong a pillar for all of them to lean on! Ganesha knew, I was shattering from within. He is my friend and I tell him everything. He visited me, played with me, he was around 7 to 8 years old, I was my age, but it did not matter, we were playing, having fun, all kiddo games and I was feeling light exactly the way I was born on this earth and in the arms of my amma. Then he suddenly told me, “I am going now, it is 5.30 a.m. everyone will wake up, I should go before the sunrises. This visit is only for you and not for others!” I was crying with tears rolling my cheeks, “No Ganesha, No, wait, let’s play for some more time, be with me na Ganesha”, I was pleading! “I have to go Mals, I cannot wait here and please stop worrying, the purpose of my visit was to tell you, I am there with you, you are destined to go through this phase, but do not worry, if I have destined it for you, I keep myself also as a part of it. I will be through the entire thick and thins, you may not see me that does not mean you are alone! Do not feel so low Mals, I am leaving now”. He was moving away waving out his hand. I had stretched my hand to stop him, it was too late; he was gone! I rolled to see the time and it was exactly 5.30 a.m. Yes, he had come, he had visited me to assure me, that the phase is short and it will disappear. My constant visit to Siddi Vinayak bearing the traffic and beggars gifted me – the lord himself!
It was another moment when I finished my careful shopping for the festival – Ganesh Chaturthi. After office hours, I go to the flower market, then the puja shop, then the veggie shop and it is my routine for the past 12 years. Those days, my area was not so developed and it was difficult to get things, so I had to travel around 3 kms to buy puja items. I was godamn tired after a hectic day, as I was nearing home, I could suddenly feel someone pulling my right index finger and trying to stop me. Actually, I was talking aloud! “I want sugarcane, I want sugarcane” “Where can I get you sugarcane, I have left the market and taken a share rick back home, now where is the sugarcane, it is past 8.45 p.m. I have to go and make the preparations for the puja too. Stop demanding” “I do not know all that, buy for me sugarcane, without which I will be very angry” “Common boy, will you stop pestering me?” “No, I want sugarcane, take a rickshaw back to the market and get me one” “Do you know how far it is? I am tired little boy. I have to line up so many things at home; you know how much help I will get from my family on this! So please let me go home” By this time, I realized I am actually walking back home after getting off the rickshaw, whom am I talking to! I wondered! I looked on the right side, my index finger was pointing downward and I saw a 4 year old boy, with half pant, tucked in shirt, well oiled hair, holding my finger! Who is this boy; maybe he has missed his parents in the market! I quickly looked at him once again! Lo! He had a trunk, long one, swinging like a pendulum as he was catching up with my long steps! For a second, I was shocked! I once again looked, he had gone! Yes, my friends, he was Ganesha, demanding like a child. I gave no thoughts, all my weariness flew out of my body. I jumped in to a rickshaw, went to the market (3 kms away from home!), bought sugarcane and reached home. It was 9.45 when I returned braving the traffic! I had to tell amma about it, she was again shocked. I told her, it was no illusion, nothing of that sort. He was there next to me holding my index finger. I was treated like Mata Mals for few minutes at home! Now, I understand how these gurujis and guruma’s get those special attentions!
I did not cash on it, but treasured it forever. I have had many such encounters! Being a private person, I do not like to make a big noise of anything I do, I may have done much better than an army of women put together, but I will not show off! I have worked for my satisfaction, I do not crave for those “Great / Good /Very good” remarks! So, I do not make much noise of my puja or my preparations.
What did Ganesha do this year! It was just last night, he came to me saying, “no noise, no pictures, just pure prayers, do it for me with all your heart, not to boast about it to your friends, just keep it low”. I agreed, woke up at 3.15 a.m., finished the grand puja in shubha yogam with kaju modak and vermicelli payasam (kheer) and our typical Prasad for Ganesha (Malar pori +sugarcane+jaiggery and coconut)!
My next door neighbor woke up at 8.30 a.m. They do so during all festivals, there is no prayers etc.. though they visit all pilgrim centers every year! They were all stinking with perspiration when I went to give my kheer and modak and pori Prasad! “So early”, they asked me, “Yes, I said, as usual, the connection is between me and my Lord! I do not need anyone else to clap and sing! No show offs!”
She smiled sheepishly asked me to hang on for onion bhajiya! No, madam, thankyou, no onion / garlic today. It is pure sambhar, beans sabzi, rice with curd and pappad. Kheer and modaks is already waiting.
I visit all the pandals of two well known suburbs of my satellite city every year, standing in long queue on muddy paths (it is rainy season during Ganesh Chaturthi and it has to rain on this day!) every year. I walk for 2 to 3 hours every day after office hours and I finish visiting the pandals in 2 to 3 days. I also click pictures of the pandals and post for my friends who are away from India and are missing these beautiful festival occasions! With strict instructions of the Lord of ‘no fotus’ this year I may have to give it a miss!
Jai Ganesha!
Parvathi nandana – My Ganesha!
Bappa Morya Re
Morya Re
Charni Tevi Mee Matha
Ganapathi Bappa Morya!
I can see him getting ready to descend on earth and be with his friends here, who love him eternally. Some enjoy his form, some his pandals, some love the razzmatazz associated with the festival, some take it as an opportunity to meet friends and relatives, and some enjoy the Prasad, while some love to boast their wealth and their possessions!
Ganesha overlooks all this petty notions of his devotees, he is happy, like a child, everyone is visiting him, offering him modak, sindhur, coconut! He enjoys the feast ignoring his amma Paravthi’s warning of not to overeat!
He loves his devotees and cares a damn of all the warnings he got from his parents. He is ready to face the wrath of his dada Shivji, only for his devotees.
He waits for this one week as he finds another home and it is nowhere other than the mighty happening dream city of India- Mumbai.
Festoons, gulal, sindhur, music, dancers, stage drama, elaborated stage decoration, pandals, tight security, huge donations which comes in gold, diamonds, cash and some just offer their eyes laden with tears! God, I have nothing, please forgive me, is what they say! He is smiling at all of them – the rich and the poor! He does not understand the discrimination. He has got nothing to do with the rich offerings, but like a true father, brother and friends takes it from his devotees and returns to them in the form of charitable trusts, hospitals, etc.. which the trust runs on his name! Huge donations pour in, Ganesha is happy!
His visit to this earth has reaped some benefit so what if it is offered in disguise of some NEED! Ganesha does not mind such bargain. Yes, give me, he says, I enjoy taking it from you. You will never give me if I ask you, I want it, so I make you crave for something which is loaded with illusion and has nothing to do with you as you are not going to take it with you, when you visit me on THAT DAY! But, I do not make you think in that aspect, just fill your heart with need and greed and force you to donate money, diamonds, gold, which I can return to my devotees who are less fortunate for you beings on this earth but are actually rich in MY WORLD!
He is my best friend, I enjoy talking to him. He has actually come to visit me too! It may sound hilarious to few, but the fact is he has come! My mom was very upset when she knew about Ganesha’s visit. I have been praying for years and he has never visited me, she lamented. Am I fortunate, if you ask, I would say, yes, I am.
It has been 12 years since I have taken the reins of performing Ganesh Puja except for one year in between, the year he took my mom with him, to give her a better place than she deserved. In the last 12 years, not once I have sat out (periods and all that ladies stuff!). The due date has coincided with Chaturthi, but it will happen only after I offer him puja, one such year was 2008, where I had to put up special prayer for keeping it at bay till I finish my puja! He made it happen, I glided through the puja rituals smoothly, nothing to worry, he whispered in my ears! I am there for you, he assured!
It was one of those trying times of my life, where I could not even cry as being the eldest in the family, I should learn to hold tears and be strong a pillar for all of them to lean on! Ganesha knew, I was shattering from within. He is my friend and I tell him everything. He visited me, played with me, he was around 7 to 8 years old, I was my age, but it did not matter, we were playing, having fun, all kiddo games and I was feeling light exactly the way I was born on this earth and in the arms of my amma. Then he suddenly told me, “I am going now, it is 5.30 a.m. everyone will wake up, I should go before the sunrises. This visit is only for you and not for others!” I was crying with tears rolling my cheeks, “No Ganesha, No, wait, let’s play for some more time, be with me na Ganesha”, I was pleading! “I have to go Mals, I cannot wait here and please stop worrying, the purpose of my visit was to tell you, I am there with you, you are destined to go through this phase, but do not worry, if I have destined it for you, I keep myself also as a part of it. I will be through the entire thick and thins, you may not see me that does not mean you are alone! Do not feel so low Mals, I am leaving now”. He was moving away waving out his hand. I had stretched my hand to stop him, it was too late; he was gone! I rolled to see the time and it was exactly 5.30 a.m. Yes, he had come, he had visited me to assure me, that the phase is short and it will disappear. My constant visit to Siddi Vinayak bearing the traffic and beggars gifted me – the lord himself!
It was another moment when I finished my careful shopping for the festival – Ganesh Chaturthi. After office hours, I go to the flower market, then the puja shop, then the veggie shop and it is my routine for the past 12 years. Those days, my area was not so developed and it was difficult to get things, so I had to travel around 3 kms to buy puja items. I was godamn tired after a hectic day, as I was nearing home, I could suddenly feel someone pulling my right index finger and trying to stop me. Actually, I was talking aloud! “I want sugarcane, I want sugarcane” “Where can I get you sugarcane, I have left the market and taken a share rick back home, now where is the sugarcane, it is past 8.45 p.m. I have to go and make the preparations for the puja too. Stop demanding” “I do not know all that, buy for me sugarcane, without which I will be very angry” “Common boy, will you stop pestering me?” “No, I want sugarcane, take a rickshaw back to the market and get me one” “Do you know how far it is? I am tired little boy. I have to line up so many things at home; you know how much help I will get from my family on this! So please let me go home” By this time, I realized I am actually walking back home after getting off the rickshaw, whom am I talking to! I wondered! I looked on the right side, my index finger was pointing downward and I saw a 4 year old boy, with half pant, tucked in shirt, well oiled hair, holding my finger! Who is this boy; maybe he has missed his parents in the market! I quickly looked at him once again! Lo! He had a trunk, long one, swinging like a pendulum as he was catching up with my long steps! For a second, I was shocked! I once again looked, he had gone! Yes, my friends, he was Ganesha, demanding like a child. I gave no thoughts, all my weariness flew out of my body. I jumped in to a rickshaw, went to the market (3 kms away from home!), bought sugarcane and reached home. It was 9.45 when I returned braving the traffic! I had to tell amma about it, she was again shocked. I told her, it was no illusion, nothing of that sort. He was there next to me holding my index finger. I was treated like Mata Mals for few minutes at home! Now, I understand how these gurujis and guruma’s get those special attentions!
I did not cash on it, but treasured it forever. I have had many such encounters! Being a private person, I do not like to make a big noise of anything I do, I may have done much better than an army of women put together, but I will not show off! I have worked for my satisfaction, I do not crave for those “Great / Good /Very good” remarks! So, I do not make much noise of my puja or my preparations.
What did Ganesha do this year! It was just last night, he came to me saying, “no noise, no pictures, just pure prayers, do it for me with all your heart, not to boast about it to your friends, just keep it low”. I agreed, woke up at 3.15 a.m., finished the grand puja in shubha yogam with kaju modak and vermicelli payasam (kheer) and our typical Prasad for Ganesha (Malar pori +sugarcane+jaiggery and coconut)!
My next door neighbor woke up at 8.30 a.m. They do so during all festivals, there is no prayers etc.. though they visit all pilgrim centers every year! They were all stinking with perspiration when I went to give my kheer and modak and pori Prasad! “So early”, they asked me, “Yes, I said, as usual, the connection is between me and my Lord! I do not need anyone else to clap and sing! No show offs!”
She smiled sheepishly asked me to hang on for onion bhajiya! No, madam, thankyou, no onion / garlic today. It is pure sambhar, beans sabzi, rice with curd and pappad. Kheer and modaks is already waiting.
I visit all the pandals of two well known suburbs of my satellite city every year, standing in long queue on muddy paths (it is rainy season during Ganesh Chaturthi and it has to rain on this day!) every year. I walk for 2 to 3 hours every day after office hours and I finish visiting the pandals in 2 to 3 days. I also click pictures of the pandals and post for my friends who are away from India and are missing these beautiful festival occasions! With strict instructions of the Lord of ‘no fotus’ this year I may have to give it a miss!
Jai Ganesha!
Parvathi nandana – My Ganesha!
Bappa Morya Re
Morya Re
Charni Tevi Mee Matha
Ganapathi Bappa Morya!
Total Comments 18
Comments
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Thanks for the HUGS
What more I want Padma, I am truely blessed to have discovered you through IL.Posted 25th August 2009 at 12:15 PM by malspie
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dear malspie,
you are right,there cannot be a greater or cuter friend like him.the ten days of ganesh chaturthi....wow...in our building..he is the real raja..we used to welcome HIM like that and when the time comes to take leave..we all bid him goodbye with heavy heart.
prijan.Posted 26th August 2009 at 02:11 AM by prijan - Hi Prinjan,
I can feel the sadness after reading your feedback.
When the pandals become empty, there is so much sadness around, we feel a member of the family is separated from us.
ONLY TO COME AGAIN...
PUDCHYA VARSHI LAVKAR YA!
GANPATI BAPPA MORYA!Posted 26th August 2009 at 10:44 AM by malspie
