We have been celebrating the Ganesha festival since the 27th of August, and as always, the atmosphere in our home has been filled with devotion, joy, and togetherness. In a traditional Maharashtrian household, the Ganesha idol is installed with great reverence and daily pooja is performed. It is also a time when family and friends come together to participate in the Ganesha Arti, which is performed twice a day with deep faith and enthusiasm.
In some households, along with Ganesha, on the 3rd or 5th day, idols of Goddess Mahalaxmi (Gauri) are also installed. The belief is that they are Ganesha’s sisters, who visit their maternal home (Maher vashini) to meet their beloved brother. To honor this tradition, daughters of the house, who have been married and moved away, are also invited back for a sumptuous meal and are showered with love and gifts. This beautiful custom strengthens family bonds and gives special importance to daughters, reminding us that festivals are not only about rituals but also about relationships.
In our home too, Ganesha festival is celebrated as one of the most important occasions of the year. We welcome both Lord Ganesha and Goddess Mahalaxmi with devotion. Our daughter Amruta, along with my husband’s sisters, is invited home and treated with the same warmth as the Goddess herself. They are served a delicious Maharashtrian feast, offered gifts, and celebrated with affection. This year, our family has celebrated the festival for 7 days. Every day, the whole family gathers for the morning and evening Arti, and it fills my heart with joy to see our grandchildren — just 9, 8, and 5 years old — singing all the Arti songs so beautifully and participating with such enthusiasm. These little ones are carrying forward our traditions, and it is this cultural continuity that makes the festival so special. Along with the little once it’s also nice to see how our son Amay performs the Pooja, a tradition that Rajiv has passed on to him!
Another heartening aspect of our celebration is the participation of foreign students. Every year, students from different countries visit our home for Ganesha Darshan. They dress in traditional Indian attire — kurtas and sarees — and truly immerse themselves in the spirit of the festival. They relish the modaks, which are considered Ganesha’s favorite sweet, and experience firsthand the joy of an Indian family festival. This year too, almost 30 foreign students joined us.
Among them, two special students — Babucker from Gambia and Wali from Afghanistan — have been visiting us for the past 5 years. Over time, Babu has learned so much about the festival that this year, instead of us explaining its significance, he himself narrated to the other students why Ganesha is installed in every home and how the festival is celebrated. Listening to him speak with such clarity and conviction filled me with immense pride. It was a true example of cultural sensitization — of how traditions can transcend boundaries and create a sense of belonging.
I felt that this moment reflected the very essence of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — “the world is one family” — which is also the motto of Symbiosis. To see our traditions being embraced by people from across the globe reaffirmed my belief that Ganesha is indeed one God who is truly global.
The celebration did not end at home. Our foreign students also had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Pune Festival, where they presented a dance on Ganesha Vandana. Watching students from different parts of the world bow to Lord Ganesha with such devotion was truly moving. It showed that festivals are not just rituals; they are bridges that connect cultures, hearts, and humanity.
This year’s celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi has once again reminded me that beyond the prayers, poojas, and festivities, lies a deeper purpose — to unite, to share, and to spread love across communities and nations. Truly, Ganesha is not only the remover of obstacles but also the creator of bonds that bring the world together.