Ganapati Festival

Ganesh Festival is an important festival (probably the most important in Maharashtra) in India.
It was popularized as a public festival by Lokamanya Tilak in early 20th century to promote grassroot unity among various communities and castes and to generate nationalistic sentiments among the poeple against the British Rule.

However, over the years, the festival has acquired a more commercial and political colour. The festival seems to have somehow lost it's religious importance as well.

Noisy celebrations, various "cultural" programs and banners and cutouts by various politicians have now become distinct features of the festival these days.

It is now time introspect on many aspects of this festival. While celebrating the festival is still very important and should be done in all it's fervour, we should also be sensitive to the environment and think about the damage we are causing to it by insisting on huge, Ganapati idols made of plaster of paris and other non bio degradable materials. A visit to the beaches in Mumbai after Anant Chaturdashi (when most of the sarvajanik ganapatis are immersed) is an eye opener. And the politicians should take the lead in this initiative. Various organizations who give away vaious prizes and awards to the Ganesh Mandals should make a bio degradable Ganesh idol a mandatory requirement for any award.

Let us think about our future generations when we celebreate our festivals today.