For Mumbaikar Leons Joseph, Ganesh Chaturthi is more than just a festival. “It`s a celebration of community, tradition, and nostalgia,” he shares. Growing up in an East Indian village in Andheri, one of his earliest memories of the city-based lawyer was experiencing the magic of Ganeshotsav through his grandmother`s enthusiasm. “I`d join her on early morning visits to the local Ganpati mandal, taking sweets and coconuts, and together we would sing during the aarti with the Maharashtrian neighbours. The open-door policy in our chawl meant everyone was welcome to join in, making it a truly inclusive celebration. I cherish the memories of participating in dance competitions and cultural activities with friends.” 

With an early exposure to the festival that celebrates Lord Ganesha, Leons says it seeped into their lives almost seamlessly even later in life. “Although we are Catholics, my father`s office employees would organise Ganpati celebration in our office, and we would participate in that. Mummy and Dada used to organise all the snacks and everything else. We would go to Dada`s office also for the celebration so that has stayed with us over the years,” adds the 30-year-old, who is one of many Mumbaikars from other communities to celebrate the festival over the years. 

Celebration of community and tradition
The beauty of Mumbai is that it is cosmopolitan and breathes secularism when it comes to festivals. This year, the festival, which is synonymous with the city, is set to be celebrated on August 27 and will continue for the next 10 days in the city, and many different neighbourhoods including Lalbaug and Girgaum are going to come alive apart from other parts of the city, and Leons is going to soak in every bit of it. Being a Catholic content creator, apart from a lawyer by day, he also brings out these unique cross-cultural elements into his reels to showcase Mumbai’s uniqueness, that make it very relatable for many Mumbaikars.