When I moved to Pune 18 years ago, I didn’t expect Ganesh Chaturthi to take root so deeply in my life. I have never been the kind who follows rituals to the letter, but I have also never doubted the quiet pull of faith. The Ganesh Festival in India is many things: loud, colourful, intimate, and deeply emotional.
Back then, I thought festivals were something you were born into; you either grew up with them or you didn’t. But living here taught me otherwise. And no time of the year makes this clearer than the Ganesha Festival. Over the years, I have been swept into its music, colors, lights, and above all, its people.
Maybe it’s the warm glow of pandal lights, the sea of people moving as one, or the smell of steaming modaks drifting from kitchens. Maybe it’s the shared smiles with strangers during the aarti. Or maybe it’s the way, year after year, I have collected my own Ganesh Chaturthi celebration stories and stitched them into the fabric of my life.
But every year, when the time comes to bid Bappa goodbye, I find myself echoing the same local plea with everyone else, “Pudchya varshi lavkar ya”, meaning Come early next year, Bappa.
The First Glimpse – A City Alive in Color and Sound
My first Ganesh Utsav felt like walking into a living painting. Streets that were ordinary the day before suddenly bloomed with lights, flowers, and pandals that looked like movie sets. Everywhere, the chant “Ganpati Bappa Morya!” rose and fell like ocean waves, accompanied by the deep, rhythmic thunder of dhol-tasha.
Back then, I didn’t know much about Ganesh Chaturthi rituals, the importance of the first day’s installation, the symbolism of the flowers and offerings, and the significance of visarjan. But every year, the pull grew stronger.
How My Family and I Grew to Love Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations?
I grew up watching Ganesh Chaturthi from the sidelines – the colours, the music, the energy of the visarjan processions always fascinated me. But for many years, I remained more of a spectator than a participant. Slowly, as my family and I became a part of our community’s celebrations, the festival started to feel more personal.
One year, I decided to go beyond just watching. At the age of 41, I picked up a pair of dhol sticks and joined our society’s pathak. I still remember the look on my kids’ faces – part surprise, part pride – as they saw me playing in rhythm with dozens of others. In that moment, I wasn’t just beating the dhol; I was beating in sync with the heartbeat of the city.
That day changed my relationship with Ganesh Chaturthi traditions. It stopped being just a festival I admired from afar and became something I lived, together with my family and community. The laughter, the shared meals, the collective energy – all of it has made Ganesh Chaturthi one of the most cherished times of the year for us.
The Kitchen – Where My Celebration Truly Begins
Ganesh Chaturthi has always been about more than just the rituals for me – it’s also about the food, the togetherness, and the joy of cooking dishes that feel both festive and comforting. Every year, I make it a point to prepare a simple yet soulful Saatvik Thali. There’s something so grounding about starting the celebrations with pure, saatvik food before moving on to the sweets.
Of course, no Ganesh Chaturthi in my home is complete without Rice Kheer simmering slowly on the stove. The aroma itself feels like the beginning of the festival. I also make Aate Ka Halwa (Kadha Prasad), which is such a nostalgic recipe – it reminds me of temple prasad I’ve had as a child, warm and made with love.
Then comes the indulgence. Kesar Shrikhand and Rabri Basundi Khurchan are my go-to desserts when I want to add that rich, festive touch. Honestly, I sometimes sneak in a little extra spoonful even before the thali is served! And of course, what’s Ganesh Chaturthi without ladoos? Besan ke Ladoo are a family favorite, while Til ke Ladoo always remind me of the stories my grandmother used to tell about prosperity and good fortune.
The best part of how to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi at home? Sharing. Plates of prasad go out to neighbors, who return the favor with their own specialties. Recipes travel faster than gossip. Children run in and out, stealing laddoos when they think no one is watching. It’s noisy, chaotic, and perfect.
Ganesh Chaturthi Visarjan: A Goodbye That’s Never Goodbye
Visarjan day has always been the hardest part of Ganesh Chaturthi for me and my family. The air is electric, the crowd swells, and Bappa – who has been the heart of our home and community for days – is ready to leave. The dhols beat louder, the chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” rise above everything else, and then comes the moment that always makes my throat tighten – “Pudchya varshi lavkar ya” … Come early next year, Bappa.
Standing there with my family, I see it all – children waving till the idol disappears, elders wiping away tears, neighbors hugging like they’ve known each other forever. My kids clutch my hand a little tighter, and I realize we’re no longer just spectators of this grand festival. We’ve grown into it, slowly but surely, year after year, until it has become part of who we are.
For us, Ganesh Chaturthi isn’t just about the ceremonies. It’s about the Ganesh Chaturthi traditions we’ve come to cherish – from shaping homemade modaks to decorating the idol with flowers and lights. It’s about the Ganesh Chaturthi rituals that bring us together – the morning and evening aartis, the prasad we share with neighbors, the community singing that makes the night feel alive.
Together, these moments have given the festival its soul. It’s food that tastes sweeter because it’s shared, music that becomes a memory, and a connection that lingers even after Bappa’s idol has gone into the water. And that’s why, for my family, the goodbye is never really goodbye.
Your Turn to Tell Your Story
Do you celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi? What’s your favorite prasad, your irreplaceable ritual, or that one moment that makes you feel closest to Bappa? Share your Ganesh Chaturthi memories in the comments, maybe you’ll find that your story and mine are already part of the same beat.
Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudchya varshi lavkar ya!
