If you have lived in Mumbai or indeed in India you need no introduction to the pomp and devotion that accompany the Ganesha or Ganpati festival.
For the unitiated, the Ganpati festival or Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration in honour of Lord Ganesha. Ganesha or Ganpati ( literally, lord of the people) is prayed to at the start of any new projects and new beginnings. He is also revered as the ‘remover of all obstacles’.
Mumbai, in particular, lives the 10 days of this festival in the spirit of celebration not dissimilar to the Mardi Gras carnival and ironically, the travel chaos that accompanies it.
Read more about the festival and how it is celebrated, here.
For me this festival has special significance for many reasons.
My grand uncle scuplted the family deity from scratch every year, lovingly moulding it over 4 weeks and then gilding it with gold leaf. A unique ‘moorti’ that, sadly, now remains only in photographs and memories.
It was an occasion for the family to rally around preparing for the clan visits and the evening ‘arti’ where family members would compete to test their singing talents as well as exercise their vocal chords.
And of course, the food was heavenly. 🙂 That was the main reason for this post but I have wandered down a few side alleys of nostalgia.
But back to the task at hand – I’d like to share with you some of the festive food that marked the 10 days of the Ganpati festival at my grandparents’ home.
1. Velchi coffee (cardamom coffee)
2. Vaatanyachi bhaaji (peas ) served with ice cold lemonade
3. Mathlele laadu (besan laadu)
I’m sure you will have tasted, if not made, some of these yourselves. Do share your comments and your versions of these treats. I’d love to know.
As we bid adieu to Ganpati, the devotees exhort him to come again the next year – ‘Ganpati bappa morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya!’ (Hail Lord Ganesha and please come back soon in the following year.)
PS: If you are wondering about the absence of the modaks, I am yet to master this Ganpati special and have saved it for when I can be proud of the versions I dish out.
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I like how festivals are celebrated in our country…your post is one of the reflections on that…
Thanks, Naba. I so agree with you. Beneath the pomp and sometimes atrocious civic sense, there is the need to connect with our friends, family and neighbours and our festivals do just that -bring everyone together.
Your granduncle crafting a Ganpati murti himself….wow! What a wonderfully special thing it must have been. You have beautifully described the significance of this festival for you and your family.
Thanks, Beloo. The Ganpati festival has always held a special place in my heart and always will. 🙂
Love the post Monica, can u pls post a pic of the sculpted Ganesh ji by ur granduncle.The stone Ganesh ji reading his book near ur bookshelf is adorable 🙂 n yes our festivals and how they reflect in each of our households, the foods, coloursm clothes, warmth, the chaos outside , everything is so ingrained in our psyche.
Thanks, Sunila. I would have loved to, Sunila except that the pics are all in Mumbai. I will bring some back on my next trip. 🙂 It was quite a unique moorti.
wow he made statues from scratch!! He is be so artistic.
Since I am married to a Marathi, this was the first time I celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi … by making Modaks 🙂
**he must be
Thanks, Rajlakshmi. Yes, he was! He made it from scratch for over 50 years. I love modaks but I haven’t mastered the art yet. 😉
Thanks for visiting me.
Lovely post! The best part of our religious traditions is our food 😉 agree?
First things first – I completely love your header. And that peas veggie sounds interesting. Where can I find the recipe?
Thanks, Tulika. The peas sabji is coming up, later this week. 🙂
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