Wednesday, August 28, 2013

GanpatiBappa : Coming Home....

This was on the Sunday, 3 days after Independence day, at Chinchpokli, a central Mumbai suburb, from where various  Ganpatibappas were making their way to their festival homes.  This festival, besides being celebrated in individual homes, is celebrated in a combined way by communities, with folks volunteering for all the activities, like, managing arrivals, controlling crowds of worshippers at the venue, and en route, the daily worship ritual, the prasad distribution, overall law and order , etc etc.


The Lord , on his way to Dongri (another suburb).  Possibly keeping an eye on the condition of the road. This year the municipal authorities have been unable to guarantee pothole free roads.



En route.....



The volunteers from Dongri, celebrating 75 years of celebrating the Lords festival.



You have to be extra careful, navigating the narrow lanes , that lead out of the workshops.  So many clicking , trying to capture His Immense Presence.



Some folks clearly have the best view of the Lord....



Learning from a young age ......



He keeps an eye on us all .....


Ganpati Bappa Morya ! and the procession continues.....



With the traditional Bhikbali ear ornament......




The Grant road ( South Mumbai ) Ganpati bappa escorted by a peacock.



The Lord was also a child once......




Baby Ganpati Bappa on a shell. Blowing of a shell is an auspicious event in the worship ritual.



Even the trains stopped to watch the Lord !! A view from the station before we left.....


GanpatiBappa : getting ready .....


Spent Independence Day, Aug 15,  in the central Mumbai suburbs of Parel and Chinchpokli, which are home to some  amazing workshops, sculptors and artists who make Ganpatis  for the Ganeshutsav , which will happen in early September this year. So many GanpatiBappas getting ready, in huge temporary sheds, protected from the monsoon.  Many large murtis, commissioned by social and religious organizations , being taken home, with a lot of pomp and celebration, and fun. 

An unusual  view of the benevolent Lord...



                       Taking a breather before  absorbing the Colors of Life....




And the brushes wait........



The Lord making his way to a Pandal in Kurla. The festival is some time away, but Independence Day is always considered auspicious to get started on a journey...



Jai Ho!


Despite so many striving to make the trip a comfortable one, I wonder what the Lord thinks about the potholes and the traffic.....


Bedazzled by the Lord....


But some continue to find something funny. The girls, clearly, much better behaved...


A closeup of the Lord, the bhakt (devotee), and the lion (bottom left), the last one clearly outraged at the state of the roads.


Another Lord, for another suburb of Mumbai.  And another form of worship. Work.


Some learn from a very young age....



The experts....



The typical brilliant yellow of the Lord's pitamber (silk dhoti)


He sees it all.....


And what a blessing to all ...!



There are special pieces to adorn the Lord on his special festival.....



Like this brilliant necklace.....



And sometimes, during  travels, the Lord  prefers flowers around his neck...


You can't really capture the Lord. He is everywhere.  Including your cell phone.



Another Lord, sitting amidst others, ready to depart to see his devotees.....