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| The Magic of Ganesha |
| Friday August 28, 2009 |
Unusual themes with social messages, mythological personalities in life-size statues enacting scenes from history books, striking decorations, brilliant lighting and an engaged audience. As children, this was what our ganesh festival was all about in Pune. And of course lots of yummy modaks at home, at the neighbours and even at the pandal just around the corner. After school, at least once in the 10 day festival, a bunch of us would head out to a pandal nearby that was famous for its themes and lights and sound show. They had life-size statues of different characters that moved around the stage, complete with hand and face movements. And they would usually enact some scene from ramayana or mahabharat. It lasted barely 10min but we wouldn't miss it for anything else. So once there was ravan who kidnapped sita, to be rescued by lord ram, and then once there was lord krishna whose sudarshan chakra actually flew and beheaded a demon. We all watched - overwhelmed and in awe...perhaps my best history lessons ever! There was beauty and simplicity in Pune's ganesh festival...For us it was more about the magic around it than the religious beliefs surrounding it. But Mumbai always had something that Pune didnt - the scale. I loved watching the visarjan or immersion processions of Mumbai...where the idols were huge and the crowds energetic.Though im not sure i want to be a part of the crowd to enjoy it. A lot has changed since then... Though the modaks are still doing the rounds, they now come in colourful flavours and even the sugar free variety...the mythological characters are all but gone, and the audience is busy being nudged and shoved around so that the serpentine queues dont linger too long. Nevermind if that means that you may only get to see the toe, or the trunk without actually registering the colourful silks the ganesh idol is draped in. And that's where cable tv has helped. You have the best view from your living room, no crowds, no lines and what more you can simply change the channel when you want to visit another pandal! And thanks to Bappa going high tech, you can simply login to be part of the morning aarti whether you are in Bhiwandi or Boston or book your pooja so that no one else gets in the way when you have an appointment with the Bappa! |
Ketki Angre is a Special Correspondent with NDTV and has been working in the electronic media since 2004. She has covered a range of stories from the 26/11 attack to the 26/11 trial, besides a range of political, social, legal and city reports.
