Over the years, Ganesh Chaturthi has taken different forms and meanings in Bharat. What started as an initiative to bring people together during the freedom movement by Lokmanya Tilak has today become a display of “social messaging”.
What is Ganesh Chaturthi about?
Well, it is the birthday of Bhagwan Ganesha and the installation of clay murtis of the deity at home on this day signifies the celebration of birth from nature. Visarjan or immersion in the lake or pond or sea signifies the end of the span of life – usually done on specific days or Anant Chaturdashi, the 10th day from the day of birth. Upon Visarjan, Bhagwan Ganesha returns to nature thus completing the cycle of life only to return the next year. The karmic cycle of birth and death is an integral part of Hindu Dharma and what better festival to celebrate it than Ganesh Chaturthi.
During the days the deity is at our homes, we celebrate and enjoy – like how we must enjoy life and live with purpose.
The importance of using clay murtis also tells us how important nature is to Hindu Dharma and how we are part of it too. As Hindus, most of us cremate our dead, and the ashes are poured into the running waters/sea to become one with nature again.
However, this favourite festival of many in the country has become a festival to preach “value” and morals is a disheartening thing. Have we seen Christmas or Ramzan being used to preach a particular theme, agenda, or pressing issue?
It is always our Ganesha who is moulded into various forms and shapes to promote a message.
In the garb of spreading a “message”, knowingly or unknowingly, we are endangering the sanctity and the real meaning of the festival.
Let’s take a look at a few “theme” Ganeshas from now and before that did not follow the actual meaning of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Chocolate Ganesha
You would have heard about several ladies and men/chocolatiers who carved out Ganesha from all kinds of chocolate only to later say that they would mix the chocolate ganesha with milk and distribute it to “poor” kids or the underprivileged.
By dissolving the chocolate Ganesha with milk and preparing chocolate milk, then consuming it, are we doing ‘jeernobhava’ of Ganesha Himself? Is this what the cycle of life and death is about?
Maulana Ganesha
In Hyderabad this year, Bhagwan Ganesha was given the form of a Maulana with topi and kurta – befitting the character!
Later after Hindu organisations like Bajrang Dal protested, they changed the turban of the murti and made Ganesha do a gharwapsi (of sorts).
Some argued that the theme was supposed to be Bajirao from the film Bajirao Mastani.
Once again, why would Ganesha, a deity be made to look like a mere mortal?
Ganesha in saree
Next, let us come to the “lady” Ganesha. While Vinayaki, the female form of Ganesha does exist, Ganesha Chaturthi is not the celebration of the birth of Vinayaki. Vinayaki does see presence in 1st century BCE to 1st century CE sculptures but Vinayaka is not Vinayaki and surely not the deity to celebrate on Ganesha Chaturthi.
Such instances of giving a female form to a male deity only look like a projection of LGBT fantasies of woke humans.
Ganesha for creating ‘awareness’
Ganesha has become a very ‘malleable’ deity who seems to fit into any form and theme. When the Doklam standoff was happening, some pandals had themes to speak to/create awareness about that issue. Here are some examples:
In this picture, Ganesha is seen with vaccines around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic to promote awareness of vaccination.
Here is another pandal where Ganesha is seen holding the noose around a convict’s neck – which seems to indicate the RGKar medical college rape and murder case, going by the props around.
Why is our deity being used to speak about and create awareness about horrific crimes – what is the message that people are trying to push? We are already fighting a battle, a losing one against demographic changes, and add to that such woke themes that will create more and more HINOs.
If you know a pandal organiser or have the practice of bringing Ganesha home every Ganesh Chaturthi, please speak up if your community or people at home want to focus on a theme. Our gods are not props for any awareness.
Yes, you could create themes around Ganesha without being forced to create awareness, like a Navaratri Golu in the South of Bharat – as an added entertainment factor for children. We also had themes around Chandrayaan/Mangalyaan launches earlier – they are still fine as long as Ganesha remains Ganesha.
To conclude, the transformation of Ganesh Chaturthi from a meaningful spiritual celebration into a platform for social messaging is a bad trend for Hindus and Hindu Dharma. This not only dilutes the spiritual essence of the festival but also sets a dangerous precedent for how Hindu deities and festivals are treated in the public sphere. Perhaps most alarmingly, Hindus seem oblivious to or unconcerned by this degradation of their cultural heritage. As Hindus, we must act decisively to preserve the sanctity of this beloved festival. Here’s how we can make a difference:
- Educate and raise awareness: Initiate conversations within our Samaj about the importance of maintaining the festival’s traditional meaning. Share the rich symbolism behind clay murtis and visarjan with younger generations.
- Lead by example: When celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, prioritise spiritual practices over gimmicks. Encourage pandals and households to focus on the deity’s traditional form and the festival’s core messages.
- Engage with organisers: Respectfully communicate with pandal organizers and community leaders about the importance of preserving the festival’s spiritual integrity. Offer alternatives that honor tradition while still engaging the community.
- Support Dharmic artisans: Patronise local artisans who create traditional clay murtis, helping to sustain this important aspect of the festival.
- Embrace positive innovation: While resisting trivializing themes, encourage creative expressions that enhance rather than detract from the festival’s spiritual significance. For instance, eco-friendly practices that align with the festival’s connection to nature.
Only by rededicating themselves to the authentic spiritual core of their traditions can we Hindus hope to preserve the profound wisdom and beauty of our faith for future generations.
This is ridiculous hurting the religious sentiments and damaging harmony among the Sikhs and the Hindus.