Like I said before here, I am a god and culture-loving person. Fear is not an emotion I associate with either. I also like most gods, but I like some a little more. Ganesha is on top of that list. The 10-day festival is so full of life in my part of the world, and it ends on a bitter-sweet note. Visarjan of Ganesha, in any shape, size, or form, leaves me with a pang of sadness. I feel overwhelmed in equal measure when he arrives and leaves. That emptiness prompted us to watch a few documentaries on the madness of ganeshotsava in Mumbai, which led me to a very important learning.

The rituals over the course of 10-days signifies the concept of birth-death-rebirth. In a span of 10 days, Ganeshji is born, lives, thrives, celebrates, and then goes back to the sea, where there is a severance of life. These idols are called navasache Ganapati, meaning, those who are born for a purpose; which is to bring to the fore a deep desire that is probably unsaid. Whether that wish comes true or not, the cycle of attachment-detachment-hope is what is the true cycle of life.

Ganesha marks the beginning of all things good. He is worshipped as the lord of new beginnings. New beginnings entail a sense of courage, confidence, and wisdom; it is not prudent to start something on impulse. But if you are too involved in your desire to succeed, you overlook the finer things around you. Separation is a reality of life, and it brings with it a barrage of negative emotions: abandonment, unfulfillment, sadness, and heartbreak. But if you look past the hurt, you have a renewed sense of hope, which is rooted in reality.