Residing in the eastern corner of India where people are eagerly shopping for the upcoming Durga Puja; Ganesh Puja is quite a mellow down affair (During my post-grad days I was fortunate enough to witness the madness engulfed in the celebrations of Ganesh Puja in Pune, awesome). Sometimes I think people of India are always celebrating some festival or the other (makes me think of one of the scene where SRK is debating with village oldies about cast, creed and rituals in the movie, Swadesh). On the other hand the small railway colony where I grew up and learned walking, cycling till day celebrates Ganesh Puja.
When I was a teenager I always loved the visarjan/immersion or the final good bye to the god so that he/ she come early next year. I loved the music, the dance and the excitement of people during this good bye process. As the stars occupied the sky the god would be rested on hand driven cart followed by a rickshaw that would carry four five big loud speakers blaring the latest, dancing chart busters of Bollywood songs and there would be one more rickshaw to carry the huge generator to support the whole process. So was a long procession surrounded by uncles and aunties (the ones who thought that they are the whole and soul of the society) and we will be here there scattered waiting for the procession to start. Usually the procession would do 360 degree journey of our society and finally the deity would be immersed in a small pond outside our society (just for a note people in the east love to create ponds with their home, baring our home). Oh yes not to forget the sweets that were served were mouth watery and the hilarious dance performances were always my keen attraction. Oh yes I never shied to do some steps with my society friends and also keeping a close eye to check who all are staring at us, Teenage crushes ;)(For a matter of a fact I never had a fairy tale love with any of my society girls. It was against my divine and ever changing policies of Love).
Now my parents have moved away from the society but they still keep going there to greet there old friends. People whom I knew more or less have all moved away except one. I was fortunate enough to see the visarjan/immersion or the good bye process once again yesterday. The procession was same and the god was also a similar one but people who were cheer leading the procession where all new faces. The only similarity was the same fun, excitement and festivity. I always believe that India is still going strong with so many hassles due to the love for festivals, culture and brotherhood on the other hand India is also ripped off in the name of love for religion and culture.