The festival that starts with great pomp and show , ends as an eyesore. Once the festival is over, people forget that their duty is also to clean the beaches. The aftermath of the beaches as well as the environment is terrifying as one can see parts of the Ganesha idol scattered everywhere- the lord that graced people’s homes, the lord that graced people’s homes, the lord that was worshipped with such great devotion, the lord who is bidden farewell with tears in the eyes lies under people’s feet.
‘We are born, we live, we disappear.’
Each year amidst much fanfare and enthusiasm, devotees welcome the Vighnaharta and their house, mandals are his adobe for the coming 21 days during the Ganpati festival. Months on end are invested in preparation and anticipation of making this year’s celebration grander and better in all aspects than the precious and amidst all the chaos that ensues the devotees somehow manage to achieve it. All through the course of 21 days that Idol of Lord Ganesha is apple of every person’s eye, but what happens after those much-celebrated days come to an end? No has ever given much thought to it, which is the reason why what happens, happens. 23rd September, 2018, the day mandated by the Hindu Calendar for the immersion of the Idols and the human tsunami that is visible on all waterfronts of Mumbai is a testament to the devotion that the people of the city that’s always wake have in their minds and souls towards the lord. Not a square inch of real estate is spared and literally you cannot place even a hair strand there, this is the might of Ganesha. But the sordid state of affairs right after the day is over is what becomes a pain in the concerned peoples mind.
People walk over the remains of the idols washed ashore by the tides as if nothing was present there and ‘twas mere mud. Agreed mud was what comprised the Idol, but it still was the same Idol those very mortals were worshiping just hours ago. What happened? Was their devotion restricted to those 21 days? Did they lose all admiration, for the lord? It seems so! A piece of mud put together was something that made all bend their heads in reverence, had no meaning for them once it was out of that setting! It hints towards the way the humans of today have been compromised, losing all that once differentiated them, taking on things the way the wanted only on occasions that suited them and often than not declining to acknowledge their presence.
Something needs to be done, to rid the mankind of this corrupt mentality and it needs to be done soon for time is less. We are losing all our characteristic elements and that day is not far when its all lost and all we would have in our hands is repentance. Its time we ACT and not let the Lord meet his fate the way he did and has been meeting all these years, its time we mended our means.
Also read: Ganpati 2018: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aaradhya visit Bappa; Shah Rukh Khan celebrates at home