Our Ganpati Bappa: A teenager’s reflections on all the God has to teach us this Ganesh Chathurthi

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The house decked in marigold flowers, the mouth watering aromas from the kitchen, and
the cycling of family members in and out of my house for ten days straight could only mean one thing: Ganesh Chathurthi, my favorite festival. Right before the beginning of the school year, my family would welcome a clay murti of the Hindu God Ganesha/Ganpati Bappa, have him reside on an intricately decorated mandap, then immerse him in water on the final day, symbolically sending him back to heaven.

Every year, these phrases would echo across the house:

Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya Vaushal Lavkar Ya!
(Glory to Ganpati Bappa! Come sooner next year!).

When the time of Visarajan, or the immersion of the idol, would come, many of my
family members wept at the departure of Ganpati from our home. While I never got to that point of emotion, I had always felt a sense of emptiness as both the holiday and its accompanying festivities would come to an end. It was almost poetic that the conclusion of a celebration celebrating the God of new beginnings would make me feel out of sorts about an ending. But, while Ganpati’s murti(idol) had physically left my house, the spirit of all that he represents will remain with me for the rest of my life.

On a shelf full of murtis, my eyes were always drawn to the one with an elephant head
and the body of an overweight man. I vividly remember being quizzed by peers and classmates about why “my” God had such odd features. However, there is immense beauty in Ganpati’s distinct iconography. “Ekadanta”(one-tusked), “Gajanana”(elephant-faced), and Lambodara”(pot-bellied) are all epithets of the God. Despite being considered “flaws” by society, Ganesha has embraced all of his unique qualities and is even praised by these names.

In a world where many place immense value on their physical appearance and, moreover, what others will say about them, it is imperative that to remember how our Ganpati Bappa reclaimed these imperfections by celebrating all of what makes him special.

Not much compares to the splendor of the bejeweled pandals, the boisterous procession
of drums in the aarti crowd, and the thousands of prepared ladoos and modaks of the festival celebrations in Maharasthra. However, showing devotion during Ganesh Chathuthi does not require such intricacies. For example, in Goa, the state bordering Maharastra, many use simple drawings of Ganesha on plain paper or Patri leaves to carry out their worship during the festival.

This custom arose during the Goa Inquisition by the Portuguese at a time when Hindu idols were prohibited and all that could be considered blasphemous to the Catholic Church needed to be easily concealed(Times Of India). While millions pray at the 14-foot Lalbaugh Cha Raja murti in Mumbai, others just a state away carry out festival rituals through worshiping a collection of wild jungle leaves. This duality truly illustrates that no matter the manner in which we call Him, our Ganpati Bappa will always be here for us. Regardless of how many flowers adorn his pandal or how many sweets are offered for prasad, Bappa cares for all of his devotees.

While Maharastrian Ganesh Chathurthi is a world renowned spectacle, for a while the
holiday was confined to private homes and only reverted to a community-based event in more modern times. To rebel against a ban on public gatherings by the British Raj, freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak organized large public celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi throughout the state of Maharastra(Indian Express). Tilak chose this festival because he viewed Ganpati as a God for all people, integrating involvement of both Brahmins and non-Brahmins. When we see such overwhelming displays of devotion, we should remember that beyond the materialistic granduer, the root of the celebration lies in the unification of all people. Our Ganpati Bappa himself served as a freedom fighter, bringing together his beloved community.

I have always believed that no matter how many pujas are done or how carefully
calculated a ritual is carried out, understanding the meaning behind why you are engaging in a religious act is always the most important thing. Even though a four-armed, elephant-headed, potbellied man is not the “traditional” picture of what God looks like for non-Hindus, Bappa teaches us that divinity does not only take one form, but rather is infinite.

His pride in his appearance teaches us to unapologetically be ourselves. Bappa shows us that no matter what your means of worship are, He will always be there. Hailed as a remover of obstacles, a patron of knowledge, and a bringer of good luck, Bappa is more than just a far-off spirit. He manifests himself in our lives in the form we need him most.

He both appeared as concealable tokens to the Goans at a time of Hindu persecution and as a rallying unifier against colonial oppression in Maharastra. Today, see Ganpati Bappa as a reminder to embrace uniqueness, trust in your journey, and know that no matter the obstacles, He will always be there to guide you forward.
Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchya Vaushal Lavkar Ya!

(References: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Of-fervour-Traditions/articleshow/3420078.cms
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/bal-gangadhar-tilak-lord-ganesh-festival-8952750/)

(Jaiden M. Patel is a part-time intern with Parikh Worldwide Media)