FESTIVE FERVOUR AND DIVINITY!
Any festival brings with it an unstinted amount of celebration and positivity. Ganesh Chaturthi is no different. But in Maharashtra, the festival – famously known as Ganpati or Ganeshotsav – goes on for 11 days with matchless gusto. We talk to the Chandigarh girl, Yami Gautam about experiencing ‘Ganpati’ in Mumbai; and also what’s been Mumbai guy, Vicky Kaushal’s association with the festival like.
What are your first memories of Ganeshotsav in Mumbai?
Not many know that in 2009, I’d landed in Mumbai for the first time, a night before Ganesh Chaturthi. I didn’t know that it’s an 11day long festival in here. In north India, it’s for just one day. But my aunt explained things. And then she was like, ‘let’s all of us go to Lalbaughcha Raja’. Of course, I had no clue what it is. But when I went there, I remember experiencing so much positivity, and never-ending queues. It was an extremely mystical as well as overwhelming experience for me.
Has your connection with the festival become stronger over the last 11 years?
I’ve always had a religious/ spiritual bent of mind. In fact, since my school days, I have had the habit of praying daily. Still, I’ve never had Ganpati at my [Mumbai] home, and it’s because I always wanted to do it with my entire family. But somehow, we all have never been together in the city on Ganpati. But if any of my friends has ever invited me to their house for Ganpati darshan, I’ve always paid a visit.
This year, the festive vibe will be marred due to Covid-19…
Of course, it’s sad that everything is low-key. But I have a spiritual way of looking at things that it is God’s will. Maybe, Mother Nature is cleansing and healing herself. I look at the positives. For instance, as family, all of us [in my family] could never be together on Ganesh Chaturthi, but this year, we are. Yes, we won’t be able to go out but the great thing is that we’re with one another.
What’s the plan this year?
For starters, I’ll cook prasad in the morning. I told mum that we should make modaks this year, which is a totally Maharashtrian influence because for north Indians, besan laddoos were always associated with Ganesh Chaturthi. Then, there will be a simple pooja as we’ve never believed in doing elaborate rituals. It’s all really personal to us. More than anything else, your internal connection with God is the most important thing.