Ganesh Puja brings in a lot of memories along with delicious delicacies from our childhood. That holiday, Ganesh Pandals, Ganesh puja bhoji and what not.
Here are Seven things that every Odia will relate to
- Collection of Chanda
I remember collecting Chanda( the contribution fee) was a huge responsibility may it be in school , Tuition or organising puja in sahis and Colonies. The more is the money; the bigger is the Lord Ganesha idol.
So we used to start collecting Chanda a month before till two days before the Puja. We used to knock on every door in our neighbourhood to collect Chanda. Sometimes parents used to get irritated, but in the end, they understand their children’s happiness.
- Selecting the idol
There used to be a competition among various clubs , colonies and schools to see who bought a big Ganesha idol and who had decorated the pandals beautifully. Hence we used to try our best and work day and night to win.
All our parents had just one dialogue then, “the interest you are taking in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, if you had taken the same interest in studies Lord Ganesha would have blessed you with good intelligence and knowledge, and you would have topped your exams.” 😂
- Food and food galore
Ganesha being the foodie God, food has to be the one and best theme of Ganesh Chathurthi. Ganesh Chaturthi used to and still marks the day where there is an incredible menu at our homes. That amazing aroma of Puri and Alu tarkari from the kitchen still makes me feel nostalgic. Talking about the prasad Seu Bundia and Chuda Ghasa still comes to mind.
- Books and Pens:
Long has been this tradition of keeping new books, pens and even our textbooks in front of our Ganesh at home. It is said to bring great luck and enhance anyone’s study process. With that at hand, we find a great reason to buy those fancy pens and pencils to keep it down near the feet of lord Ganesha.
And on this day we never used to study. “If you study on Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha will get angry and you will fail in exams” a common myth that we used to have.
- Wearing new dresses and keeping fast
On this particular day we used to wake up early morning, take head bath, used to wear beautiful dresses and visit our neighbours home (you know how girls show off) .
We used to keep fast until we give Pushpanjali (offering of flowers). But never we felt tired or exhausted because we forget everything in the excitement of celebrating Lord Ganesha’s birth.
- Shree Ganesha Visharjan
Ganesh Chaturthi , the most awaited festival of the year ends with the visarjan ( immersion of the idols in water bodies) and while immersing we keep chanting “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Agle baras tu jaldi aa”. This made us sad.
We consider Lord Ganesha like our friend and hence the farewell to our friend was also a huge celebration. We used to take Ganesha to all the colonies for a final darshan before visarjan with all the decorative lights, music , dance and Sev boondi as prasad . It feels like someone’s Baraat.
- Ganesh chaturthi after party
We children used to buy the best idol and the best decorative items. But at the same time we also used to try to save money from the collected chanda as much as we can so that we can have a after party🤭
These all were very exciting and beautiful memories of my childhood days. But the older I got , I realised the idols made of plaster of paris only polluted the water bodies , which of course Lord Ganesha will never wish for. Also I realised , the myths we had during our childhood days were also made by some students like us as an excuse for not studying 😂 .
Ganesh Chaturthi is not just a festival but an emotion.
GANAPATI BAPPA MORYA!!
MANAGAL MURTY MORYA!! 🙏
By Maheshwari Singh
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