Ganpati Bappa Morya

Early in the morning today, I was out for a walk. Just as I was heading the gate, i saw the tiny outline of a maruti 800 at a distance. As it neared, i started hearing a faint buzzing sound. At first i didnt know where it came from. I could feel my head bob up and down, then it went from right to left. My eyes roamed everywhere scanning my surrounding for some clue. Somewhere between this "neck bob exercise" and the "eye scan", i spied the lips of the people inside the car move. No, nothing wrong with that. But the lips were moving in rhythm... dubdub - dubdub --- dub dub or was it... buzbuz - buzbuz --- buz buz... :)

Words rolled in their mouths... a faint sound, almost musical, hit my eardrum... i nodded knowingly in my mind.
Why it was "Ganpati Bappa Morya!" Don't remember whether I was also humming with them as the car passed by me.

There sat 'Ganpati Bappa' himself on the lap of one of the men, staring serenely out of the windscreen of the car. The family was bringing The Lord home. The first day of "Ganpati" as it is referred to here in aamchi Mumbai marks the beginning of 10 days of celebration, prayers and modaks.

While I continued walking I was still thinking about what I saw. I don' think i liked what i saw... There was no enthusiasm... the chants were mild, almost conscious... the family was couped in the piece of metal... A celebration? Or a lack of it?

I would have liked a small procession. A few street urchins dancing to the beat of the dhol. Men, women and children turning their throats sore with notes of "Ganpati Ala"... sigh! That would have been a nice sight.

Money's ruined us all... We no longer know how to enjoy.

until the next time,
keep the faith.

josh