Small scale, big hope: Mumbaikars bring in Ganesh Chaturthi with joy and caution

Mumbaikar Natasha Nayak has always had grand celebrations in her home and she hopes things return to normal so her 2-year-old daughter can experience the traditional grand celebration. Photo: Natasha Nayak

Ulhasnagar-based Dr Anil Mirchandani will be substituting his pre-pandemic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations of conducting the visarjan at the artificial pond near his house by immersing the idol in a bucket at home this year instead. Mirchandani isn't the only one making changes to the festivities this year. In fact, he is one of many Mumbaikars, who are celebrating only within the confines of their home. While some may not be happy about it, they are counting their blessings in such difficult times.

A year after the Covid-19 pandemic played spoilsport for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, which are usually done with large gatherings in the city, Mumbaikars aren't letting it ruin the mood this time around. They are being cautious like Mirchandani, who will be celebrating only with his family with eco-friendly celebrations and using the digital media.

He explains, "Before the pandemic, we used to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi for five days with family and friends. In 2020, however, we conducted the celebration for 1.5 days only. This year, we will have it for 5 days like we usually do and immerse the dissolvable small idol in a bucket in my house and also conduct Zoom aarti meetings with relatives and friends, something we didn't do last year." The city-based doctor says while the fear factor gripped them last year, the fact that everybody is vaccinated this time around lets them go back closer to their original celebrations. This will be accompanied by traditional Sindhi food like sai bhaji, tuk potatoes and bhuga chawal.

While Mirchandani is closer to conducting celebrations which resemble pre-pandemic times -- at least in terms of the number of days -- Chembur-based Natasha Nayak is hoping the situation gets better soon because Ganesh Chaturthi has always been a big celebration in her home and she has missed it for two years already. "I want things to be normal because I want my 2-year-old daughter to know what it's like to celebrate a full-fledged grand festival," Nayak says.

Her family used to host as many as 150 people during the 1.5-day celebrations earlier, with family and friends being involved in decorating the house and making modaks and different types of sweets for the occasion. "Ours was always a grand celebration because it was something my husband and I wanted since we were kids. So, we decided to do it after our marriage too. The preparations, which started from the night before with family and friends staying over for all the help, are now limited to only immediate family and because it's so bad outside we actually have to work with minimal preparations and decorations," she reminisces. However, she notes that the family has grown closer in the process.

Celebrations in Sushant Patil's home will be toned down this year because his grandfather passed away due to Covid-19 in January. Photo: Sushant Patil

Nayak and her family will be carrying out the visarjan indoors on their terrace this time with eco-friendly celebrations using a ‘Tree Ganesha'. She and her husband have chosen to do it not only because they are eco-conscious but to also avoid being exposed to the coronavirus. This approach has translated into the idol turning into two beautiful plants in their house so far, over the last few years.

Elsewhere in the city, Bhandup-based Sushant Patil's family will celebrate the festival but it won't be as grand as many others in the city because they will feel the absence of an important member of the family. "The celebrations in my family will be toned down this year because we lost my grandfather to Covid-19 in January, so a festival which is usually celebrated with utmost excitement by us will make us feel his absence," says Patil.

When the Mumbaikar talks about missing out on the usual excitement for the festival, he means it in all honesty because preparations for the celebration in the Patil household doesn't begin a day prior but months before the actual day. "Our pre-pandemic preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi would start at least two months prior to the event with ideas for decoration and prasad items," he recalls.

However, like Nayak, Patil says the pandemic has made the event more intimate, with just family members spending 10 days together. The fact that everybody is working from home means that there is no chance of skipping the aartis that are usually conducted during the period, and would otherwise be missed due to long working hours out of the office. "We can now dedicate more time to Bappa," adds the 33-year-old marketing professional, setting the tone for the next 10 days of the celebration.

Also Read: Why these Mumbaikars went zero-waste with their festival celebrations