Behind Ganesh Idol Establishment,10 days of worship and Immersion

 Behind Ganesh Idol Establishment,10 days of                         worship and Immersion

As we all know, most of the Indian festivals are in accordance with the agricultural harvests, so is the Ganesh festival. In fact almost all festivals in the world are complementary to the weather and harvests of that part.

Lets see how Ganesh and Gauri Festivals are complementary to the monsoon in Indian weather and harvests.

In monsoon, because of rains, large amount of soil is drifted away. Making idols from the farm soil is one solution farmers came up with. They would make idols, worship them and again immerse these idols in their farms. Yes, this is another way to immerse our idols than immersing them in river/water.

So what will be the best eco friendly idol I make? Ofcourse farm soil itself. If not farm soil, any eco friendly soil like Kali mati, chikaN mati, Shadu mati, Geru.Colours? Haldi, Geru, charcoal and any natural colour. Commercial colours are obviously not eco friendly but choose water colours amongst them.

Lock down taught me to celebrate festivals with hand made, home made things. Since then I decided to choose stuff that is available at home for festivals or Pujas. I tried to follow no spends policy for festivals at home. Few things are unavoidable but I try my best. Handmade, home made things give more joy than from outside.

I believe we are trapped in festivals=expenditure trap. We are paying a lot in the name of demand and supply in the market for festivals. Do we even care for the things we purchase for festivals once the festivals are over? Do we know meanings of the rituals we are following ? Think about it.

Why were rituals or customs made? For example why do we cede Kewra leaf to Ganesh? Because cultivating Kewra plant completes the Nature cycle.

That is why I emphasize on planting local trees. They know their roots and help mother nature to take care of herself.

It is good that we have questions about all rituals we follow and we are seeking answers and they make sense now.

There are so many such examples which can not be covered by this small article.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to All !!

#इनलव्हविथPCMC

 #इनलव्हविथPCMC

             नोकरी मिळाली आणि मी पुण्यात स्थायिक होण्यासाठी धडपड करू लागले.आई,बहीण आणि भाऊ सोबतीला आले.त्यांना इथे कॉलेजात ऍडमिशन घेतली.वाचन भरपूर,वाचा शुद्ध आणि नाटकात काम करणे,नाटकं पाहणे हे छंद असल्यामुळे पटकन रुळले इथे.खरंतर आम्ही सगळेच छान रुळलो.मित्रकॅम्पनी खूपच छान मिळाली.एकदा "तुला शिकवीन चांगलाच धडा" केलं आणि सगळे "मंजू" म्हणायला लागले मला.खूपच छान आठवणी आहेत."गोखले" सरांना आयुष्यात विसरू शकणार नाही मी.तुमच्यापैकी बरेचजण त्यांना ओळखंतही असाल.कसबा पेठेत क्लासेस आहेत त्यांचे."Operating Systems"  चे.माझे सगळ्यात आवडते न आदर्श सर.नोकरी लागली ,चार पैसे हातात येणार म्हणून आम्ही आनंदात "सुभद्रा" ला गेलो सहज,तर काय,चक्क सर समोर...आम्ही भारावून गेलेलो..तिथेच सरांना लोटांगणांना सुरुवात झाली,सगळे आमच्याकडे वेडयासारखं पाहत होते.मग प्रत्येकाने आपापला तपशील सांगितला न मग कुठे खाल्लं.

   असो .मग काय बाब्बा..माझी फॅमिली सोबत,इतका चांगला मित्रपरिवार..माझ्यासारखी मीच झाले होते..आनंदी आनंद गडे..इकडे तिकडे चोहीकडे...तर ..दुसऱ्या पगारात आमच्या ग्रुपने दुचाक्या घेतल्या..अन एक रस्ता नाही ना सोडला पुण्याचा..दगडूशेठ,सारसबाग,सिंहगड,पानशेत रेस्तराँ मध्ये श्रेयस,दुर्वांकुर,पंचमी,कामत सगळं सगळं झालं.विकेंडला तर JM road वर पडीक असायचो.आयुष्यावर बोलू काही अगदी तोंडपाठ.किती नाटकं झाली न कित्येक चित्रपट.पुण्यावर प्रेम जडलं.तेव्हा pcmc काही आवडायचं नाही बुआ.आम्ही सांगावीत राहायचो तरीही.लग्नानंतर ऑफिस जवळ विश्रांतवाडीला राह्यलो काही दिवस.मग काय चारचौघांसारखा "वाकड"  ला फ्लॅट बुक केला.काही वर्षांनी शिफ्ट हि झालो.पण पुण्यावरचं प्रेम काही कमी झालं नाही."अरे किती हे लांब पडतं पुण्यात जायला" हि नेहमीची कंप्लेंन माझी.

हो मग अजूनही प्रत्येक गोष्ट पुण्यात जाऊनच आणते मी.पेशवाई म्हणा कि रविवार पेठेतली शॉपिंग,मिसळ म्हणा अथवा अगदी हेअर कट हि FC road वरच.पाहता पाहता वाकड मध्ये राह्यला लागून 5-6 वर्ष झाली.एवढ्या वर्षात ह्या pcmc मध्ये इतका बदल झालाय म्हणून सांगू.पुणे मुंबई हायवे आत्ता आहे तसा अजिबात नव्हता हो.आता COEP पासून सुरु झालो कि अगदी मुंबई पर्यंत थांबायची गरज नाही.अगदी "इथून दोरी टाकली अन मुंबई ला जाऊन टेकली" असं.नाशिक फाट्यापासून पिंपळे सौदागर पर्यंत येणारा ब्रिज माहीतच असेल.कसला भारी आहे.काळेवाडी फाट्यापासून थेट सायन्स पार्क कडं जाणारा ब्रिज पाहायला का? खूपच छान झालाय.चिंचवडला नवीन बाग झालीय तिचा तर वर्तमान पत्रात लेखही आलेला.खूप सुरेख बाग आहे."स्वामी" वाचणाऱ्यांनी एकदाही मोरया गोसावी ला भेट दिली नसेल हे अशक्यच.शिवाय पावसाळ्यात ट्रेक ला जाव्यात अश्या बऱ्याच जागा इथून जवळ आहेत.

             ऑफीस मधून निघाल्यानंतर सेनापती बापट रोड वरून वाकड कडे येताना कधी एकदाचं औंध येतंय असं होतं मला.औंध संपलं की pcmc सुरू होतं.आणि हुश्श व्हायला लागतं.मस्त मोट्ठे रस्ते.चांगले ब्रिज.मस्त ट्राफिक.जास्त असेल तरीही असं वाटत नाही हो.भरपूर जागा आहे.तर आवाडायला लागलंय आता इकडेच.

          बरेच प्रोग्रॅम्स चालतात इकडे.इथले नागरिकही बरेच सजग आहेत.पिंपळे सौदागर,गुरव आणि वाकड ह्या चांगल्याप्रकारे मेंटेन केलेले भाग आहेत.काय नाही मिळत सांगा आता इकडे.कमी प्रदूषणामुळे वातावरणहि थंड आहे.शिवाय बरेच ऑफिसेस जवळ आहेत.का नाही पडणार मग कुणी प्रेमात.तशीच मी पण पडलेय.इन लव्ह विथ pcmc..देणार ना मग एकदा भेट!

Things are changed

             Believe me, things are changed so much these days. Earlier we had only television and theatres for entertainment. Now has come the OTTs,Youtube,Netflix,Prime.

Earlier definition of beauty was different. Indian definition of beauty of a girl I have heard since childhood is straight nose, big,black eyes,black thick,long hair. I have always loved height as a factor of beauty. I love girls being tall. Indian definition of a handsome boy? ..Aah who cares?? They are BOYS.

But now, lot of things changed. Now on OTTs, people of different races altogether are performing together breaking all stereotypes of the definitions. People of different states,regions in India must feel awkward around each other. People of different races altogether must be an EXPERIENCE. But yes they are doing it and I just love it. India is really growing.

I feel population in India is exploding so immigrating is only a better solution for Indians to grow. and lot of them are immigrating.

Shreenidhee and Shreesha

 Shreenidhee asked me if I have written when she was born.I had written a letter to her on my first baby shower. But she wanted to know how did I feel when she was born. Well, she is my first child so the feeling of course was special.I had become mother first time. The feeling was so amazing. I had followed lot of Garbh sanskar rituals and knew always that she will be so special.

Shreesha was a surprise.It was a rainy day when she was born. It was 2 AM when we ran to the hospital in Udgir. With spots of rain falling and a distant peal of thunder adding to the drama,Shreesha came into this world. Shreesha has a special reason to be in my life ,our life. She is definitely going to do something special, something that everyone will acknowledge.

Strategies

I see people strategizing in  normal life as well. It is not just a corporate thing. If you want someone to get your attention and be there for them, they strategies to suddenly pop up and praise you. Usually too they praise you but the extent is more when they want you to be present there for them.

Is it good or bad?

It is neither. It is neutral and it is OK. It depends on you if you want to be there for them that time.    

15/05/2024

Another encounter of this rule today.

Everyday

                 Everyday is a new day and every new day has something to be written about.I think I am gonna write everyday now. It feels wonderful to even think about it. Yeah !!