Ganpati in Mumbai

One of the biggest festivals in Maharastra is Ganesh Utsav. You can find ganpati pandals in every next gully (lane) and they hold 20 – 40 foot big ganpati idols.

So, while the 10 days Ganesh Utsav is on, you need to take a day off or plan visiting all these places on weekends. Starting from your society’s own Ganpati pandal, start walking and visit all the pandals that come on your way. Admire the huge idols, pray feverishly and enjoy the Prasad. This process will eat up your entire day, but by the end of the day you will be super satisfied.

That’s what I did, started from nearest ganpati pandal, paid visit to every ganpati idol on my way. Sharing some of the photo with you.

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Symbolic Ganesha

With the arrival of Lord Ganesha, we all are geared up for the most celebrated festival in Maharashtra.  Everyone celebrates this festival with enthusiasm but we fail to understand what Lord Ganesha actually has to tell us.
If we observe Ganesha carefully, we will understand that the idol in front of us is a symbol. Yes a symbol!
Let me explain the symbols one by one.

• Starting from Lord Ganesha’s big head, he wants to tell us to think big and better.
• His big elephant ears symbolize that we should listen more and listen carefully to each and everything around us. Learn the art of listening and use this to think big.
• Moving to his tiny eyes, he wants to tell us to look carefully and improve our concentration. The small tiny eyes symbolize the concentration power which is important to achieve success in life.
• His small mouth indicates us to talk less, but listen more. 
• His long and strong trunk symbolizes high efficiency and adaptability to environment.
• Lord Ganesha has only one tusk for which he is called as “Ekdant” (one tusk) is a symbol depicting that we should always retain good and positive thoughts in life, while throwing away negative thoughts that ruin our concentration. 
• He holds an axe in his right hand which tells us to cut unnecessary bonds and attachments. In his left hand he holds a rope, which says that we should always climb towards our goal. 
• And of course Lord Ganesha blesses all his devotees with his right hand and saying that he is always with us in achieving our goal.
•  In his another left hand he holds modak(a sweet) which symbolizes that we will always get sweet rewards for our hardwork.
• Ganesha’s big round belly is symbol saying we should peacefully digest all good and bad in our life without letting it affect us and our goals. 
• And last but not the least, we see a small mouse sitting in front of him on whom Lord Ganesha rides is also a symbol through which Ganesha wants to tell us that desires unless they are control can cause destruction, so we should not let the desires over power us. Rather we should ride and control our desires.

May Ganpati Bappa bless you all with success, prosperity and wisdom in life.

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