Today is the day of the arrival
of Lord Ganesha - the harbinger of success at all homes. The festival of Ganesh
Chaturthi is celebrated with great pomp, zeal and splendor in Mumbai and the
glitterati of Bollywood and the Television industry are not immune to this huge
festival. While almost every television soap includes Ganpati festivities in
their track, many of our television stars celebrate the coming of Lord Ganesha
in real life too. While for some it’s all about eco-friendly Ganesha, some like
to celebrate it the traditional way. And the ones who don’t get it home, they
are either at their friends or relatives place or just visit Lalbagh cha Raja
or Siddhi Vinayak for blessings. And while they are not shooting for the serial
with the lord, they don’t mind going pandal hopping too, says a few.
And the same goes with our film
fraternity too. While Nana Patekar continues the tradition of the festival started
five decades ago by his father, Superstar Salman Khan has faithfully celebrated
Ganesh Chaturthi for the last decade at his home in Bandra Galaxy Apartment. Almost
all major Bollywood celebrities take part in the pooja and celebrations held in
the homes - be it Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Shilpa Shetty, Rani Mukherjee, Suniel
Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon and Shreyas Talpade. Not to forget
mentioning Jeetendra and his daughter Ekta who has a Ganesh Chaturthi
celebration in nearly all the serials that are on air during this sanctum
occasion.
Vipul Roy
Actor
It's the best time of the year
for me and this time it's more special as the next day August 30th is my birthday
too!! It's my 8th year of bringing Ganesha
home!! And a huge number of people turn up rite from Friends to acquaintances
and that's the best part. And that’s precisely was the idea with which Ganesha
festival was started. Ganpati Bappa Morya…
Twishaa Bhatt Sandhu
Actress
It’s been 7 years now that I do
visit Lalbagh cha Raja and like any other devotee, I too stand in the queue for
long long hours just to get a glimpse of him. And the wait is worthwhile. While visiting him, I don’t expect
any preferential treatment and this is my way of paying obeisance. I don’t get the
Lord at my place, but I have been planning to do that and hopefully if Bappa
agrees, maybe next year I will be welcoming him
Like any other Indian festival, Ganeshotsav
is celebrated with lots of excitement and the atmosphere in the entire state is
so happy happy.. You just can’t be sad when Bappa is around. In my childhood, 10
days of Ganpati Bappa in our society meant coming home only to sleep. It was so
much fun with the aartis to the cultural event that followed - I have fond
memories of my childhood attached to the festival.
Soon, I will start shooting for a
new show from September and with the blessings of Bappa may soon do a movie for
which talks are on.
Amit Behl
Actor
We have been getting Ganeshji since 2000 and this will be the 14th year. We celebrate it in a very traditional Maharashtra fashion as my wife is a Maharashtrian.
We have been getting Ganeshji since 2000 and this will be the 14th year. We celebrate it in a very traditional Maharashtra fashion as my wife is a Maharashtrian.
Amrita Dutta
Fashion Photographer
Ganesh Chaturthi is synonymous
with the state of Maharashtra, but Mumbai is where the fun never ends. This is not because the festival is observed
at a grand scale here, but cos of our beloved Lalbaug cha Raja. The 10-days
festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and it’s also one of the best
times when we photographers are click happy. And Lord Ganesha is my most
revered deity and thus Ganesh Chaturthi happens to be the most happening event
of the year for me.
While we don’t get the lord at
our home, but we do celebrate it my maternal uncle’s (Mama). And the onus of the
entire decoration comes on me. Every year we have a theme and this year we have
the Peacock theme. Even I believe in being eco friendly but couldn’t do much
with the murti’s, but we have been having the eco friendly visarjans as well as
eco friendly decorations. Yes, we re-churn the decorations and yet give it a
very different look each year. However, next year, I am planning to make an
eco-friendly ganesha myself and perhaps that will be the start of a complete
eco-friendly Ganeshotsav for us.
We bring the lord and rever him
in our own way. We have got done of the priests unlike others and conduct all
the rituals ourselves - it’s like having a direct connection to him. We love
him like a kid, feed him delicacies that my aunts and my mom prepares and just
like him, his modaks are my favourite too.
Shakti Arora
Actor
Currently doing Meri Aashiqui Tumse
Hi on colors, I have made it a point to be home to welcome my Lord. We bring a Ganesh
idol at our place since many years now. Rather it would be right to say, that
he gets we all family members together to welcome him home. This festival means
a lot to me since it signifies that Ganeshji is a Vighnaharta - that means he solves
all problems. Ganeshji in my life has played an important role too - he has.always
solved my problems and given me whatever I have asked from him. He is more a
friend and we enjoy celebrating his visit and presence every year with full
josh'.
Umer Khan
Singer - Mile Sur 2 Winner
As Maharashtra and especially Mumbai
gears up for 10-day long Ganesh Chaturthi beginning today with road-side
pandals coming up in every corner of this metros, the Ganeshotsav fervor is one
not to be missed in Mumbai. I basically belong to Srinagar, Kashmir and I had
heard a lot about the Mumbai Ganeshotsav celebrations. It also amazes me as how
all regardless of their religion or personal differences celebrate the festival
in colorful ways. It seems, even Salman Khan celebrates it at his home. And this
time I will be a witness to this frenzy and mammoth event - My first time to
witness such an event in its magnitude and scale. I can see the city already in
the festive mood. I will be visiting my friend’s home and will also witness the
celebrations all across the city with my friends and colleagues.
Meghaa Mukherjee
Actress
I do not get a Ganeshji home, but
I definitely visit Ganesh Pandals and friend's homes who get a Ganeshji. According
to me, Lord Ganesha symbolizes purity, abundance and honesty. Some of the moorti
especially which I have seen are marvellously made and simply makes my heart melt.
It restores some hope and faith that there is still positivity left in the
world and miracles can happen even today. My only concern is damage done to the
environment due to many idols of ganesha going into the sea every year which
can harm and destroy the marine life. We had an incident once where it was
mentioned in the papers that millions of fish died the day of Ganesh Visarjan. I
would like to ask that since god created this world, would Lord Ganesha be
happy that we are destroying the world he has created? I pray people get
together and try to find ways to reduce the number of idols and also use eco
friendly Idols so that there is still a balance in the environment. I am
spiritual but also i think it’s high time we all get realistic and care more
about the world and its people. That’s true worship of Lord Ganesha, or any
god/goddess for that matter. As of me, I am currently working with stray
animals - helping arrange funds for food and medical supplies mainly dogs and cats.
As well talks are on for a Bengali film early next year.
Neeraj Malviya
Actor
No, I don't get Ganeshji at my Mumbai
home but in Bhopal we get him for 10 days. So on my behalf they do everything.
But yeah, I do miss the fun and celebrations. However, I go to my friends place
and its awesome feeling to visit and worship there. But the best thing about
Ganeshotsav celebrations is Mumbai is the Visarjan - who will miss the Ganpati
dance? And I would in no way miss that. As for my career, he has given me the
best opportunities and Im thankful to Ganesha in every way. My Ek Mutthi Aasman
is going off air on 12th September. Right now I’m doing a cameo in Rajan Shahi's
show and talks are on for new projects.
Anubhav Krishna Srivastava
Actor
I don't bring the lord home but
it does come in my Apartment where the whole society celebrates it for 5 days. To
me that is as well bringing him to my abode too. Apart from this, I do
celebrate it on my show Pavitra Rishta with my on screen father Hiten Tejwani.
I am playing Sachin Deshmukh, the son of Archana and Manav. I also do visit
pandals especially Lalbaug and Wadala as well go over to my friends house who
keep Ganpatis
According to me, Ganesh Chaturthi
is one of the best festivals as Ganeshji is not only the most popular god, but
the best thing about Ganeshotsav is that it's not religion based. I have Muslim
friends who bring in Ganpati at their place - that shows the love and respect
for him. The enthusiasm is also at his best and we not only get to see the lovely
avatars of Ganeshji in different pandals which is mesmerizing, but of course
the delicious modaks, which is quite a favourite.
Deepak Wadhwa
Actor
I was hectically tied up with Qubool Hai for quite some time. In between I got a few days break and I rushed home to Delhi to be with my family. I so much wanted to get home a Ganpati this
year, but since I’m in Delhi and not coming back for another couple of days I could
not. Every Ganpati I usually go to my friend’s house and celebrate. Also on the
last day I usually travel from my home to Versova jetty clicking pics, admiring
different ganpati's and taking prasad from almost all the pandals..and the last
one is my fav part.. hehe..
Since I have been staying in Mumbai
since the last 4 years, Ganpati has definitely become a part of my life. The way
people celebrate Ganpati in Mumbai is amazing. It reminds me of my childhood when
we used to celebrate Diwali. I’m glad atleast people still celebrate festivals
in the same fervor.
Ankush Salgotra
Actor
First of all, Ganpati Bappa Morya…
Mangal Murti Morya. I basically belong to Jammu and
as such never got a chance to celebrate Ganeshotsav the way it is celebrated in
Mumbai. But now stationed here for quite a few years, I celebrate Ganeshotsav
by visiting family members and friends who get Ganpati at their place and also
visit the various Ganesh pandals across the city. I always wanted to get a Ganesha
home - but my family stays in Jammu and we believe that the lord is usually
bought in the family home. And I am looking forward to the day when I can
welcome Ganesha at my home. Ganeshotsav to me means seeing the lord - I believe
in being celebrated all over. The decoration, the devotional chanting and the
beautiful idols are very exciting. Also it gives me time to catch up with my
friends and family during this season as being an Actor, life gets very hectic.
And this gives more a reason than the time to visit all. Once again, wishing you
all a very Happy Ganeshotsav.
Shruti Kulshrestha
Model & Actress
Ganesh utsav is always an
auspicious festival for me. It is really a wonderful feeling to bring home a beautiful
and cute Ganesha - the love of our life. In my childhood, I used to eager look
forward to welcoming him and those 11 days would be real bliss for me. Ganesha brings
with him his usual dose of luck, goodness and cheer to our home and spreads spirituality
all across. Ganeshji is also the sign of prosperity and good luck and I
strongly believe that Ganesh utsav always bring luck for me. We don’t do a
fanciful puja but its all Dil se and with modak Prasad, his favourite and
delicious food. My mom also prepares his favourite ladoos. I hereby invite all
my friends, relatives and well wishers to my home to celebrate Ganeshotsav with
me and chant Ganpati Bappa Moriya Mangal Murti Morya. Jai Ganesha..
Ameya Naik
Music Composer
Lord Ganapati comes to our home,
rather his home since past 20 years, for 5 days, and his arrival every year
brings us immense happiness, warmth, luck and love, as that’s what he is full
of.
We usually get an Eco-Friendly
Ganpati made out of paper mache from Sadguru Shri Aniruddha Upasana Trust. This is what everyone should be going for
now, to preserve our nature and the Sea.
Such an eco-friendly Ganpati, dissolves in water in 3 hours flat and is
also painted with safe water soluble colours, which won’t harm the marine life.
We celebrate Ganeshotsav in a
very different way. We do not believe in any fixed ritual done by any priest,
which everyone does. Our beliefs are very true and practical. As Lord Aniruddha
(Bapu) teaches us that God is only a sea of love and when he comes to your
house, You yourself need to welcome him in your own way, which he loves the
most, and accepts whatever you do, however you do it, with love. He does not
need any agent like the priests, to take your prayers to him. I think this is a
very important thought which can change lives of people, as this is the right
way of worshipping God.
As I hurriedly finish off writing this piece, Mumbai and Bollywood is already soaked in a devotional spirit as the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities starts off. Even I am rushing home to welcome Bappa at my abode and usher in the festive spirit with his favourite modaks and ladoos. On the way I can see a sea of people carrying Ganesha home while the fm in my car is busy playing...
Deva O Devaa, Ganpati Devaa,
Tumse Badhkar Kaun; Swami Tumse Badhkar Kaun
Aur Tumhare Bhakt Jano me Humse Badhkar
Kaun; Swami Humse Badhkar Kaun...
Mohan Das
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