The Grandeur of Ganesh Chaturthi

Kitty and I chose to spend this Ganesh Chaturthi with devotion and goodwill. We woke up at dawn and visited a nearby Vinayakar Kovil, where we lit three ghee divas and soaked in the sublime temple architecture.

The mythologies surrounding Hindu gods have always fascinated me. Lord Ganesha—born of Parvati Devi’s body dirt and given an elephant’s head by Shiva—remains one of my dearest idols. A mischievous yet endearing son, a food lover with a tiny mouse as his vehicle, the scribe of the Puranas, and Vigneshwaran, the remover of obstacles—he embodies both the divine and the humane, reminding us that spirituality often comes wrapped in stories we can connect with.

Back home, Alee and I cleaned our space and lit sambrani, filling the rooms with warmth and light. The day grew even more special when our house owner aunty surprised us with a spread of homemade meals and prasadam, shared with such affection.

Ganesh Chaturthi, to me, is not only about the glowing divas, soulful music, vibrant decorations, or rituals. It is also about the genuine love that flows from those around us. That love is what makes festivals so beautiful—and what I wish for us all, not just today, but every day.