Part of being married to a Goan, it has become customary for me to be in Goa
on Ganesh Chaturti and must I add, it is an amusing site at home. But later
about the home. With weather in Goa being favourable to me for a change, I
ventured out to explore the richness the state promises to offer during the
festive season. A vacation amidst the fragrant petrichor, music of pitter-patter and the
sight of shrubs and trees being washed clean with the rain is what a city
dweller like me needs once in a while.
But that is not all that Goa had to offer. With Ganesh Chaturti, the festive
mood is alive in every heart here. The streets showcases a vast array of
creativity in the various avatars of Ganesh idols on display. There
are Ganesh idols in what looks like Shirdi Sai Baba, lotus and hibiscus flower
and Gandhi along with the less unusual forms like baby Krishna or, musician
Ganesh along with the gigantic standing, sleeping or, sitting idols.
The other site to marvel is the mattoli bazaar. A visit to the
Maatoli bazaar and I was left seeing plants I had never seen before. Maatoli is
a Goan tradition where, fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, etc. are hung on a
wooden frame over the idol, symbolizing Ganesh’s status as a provider. Fresh
fruits, vegetables, leaves and nuts of different kinds are sold for the purpose
and none of them come cheap! A bunch of 10 beetle nut is sold for Rs. 200/- and
a handful of grass, Yes, you heard me right, grass that is easily available all
around us to walk and trample on is sold for Rs. 35/- a handful! What is
surprising is that people actually buy it! Sellers go the extra mile of hunting
the deep jungles, fighting insect and reptile bite and climbing slippery
trees to get the maatoli ingredients.
The best thing about Ganesh Chaturti here is the peacefulness in which it
is done. Tourist flood Goa in hoards during Christmas, New Year and to
experience the Great Goa Carnival but fortunately, Ganesh Chaturti here has
remained a quiet and joyous festival that graces the homes and temples rather
that strutting it out on the streets. No massively blaring loud speakers
playing crude songs or, donation demands at your doorstep or, any other
attendant evils of celebrations. Ganesh Chaturti in Goa is simply a fresh
welcome to the fragrant monsoon. Family and friends visiting, a hearty feast
that makes you forbid your health conscious diets, aarti and rangoli is what portrays the festival here.
My next post is going to be on how individual houses in Goa celebrate it and the irony behind Ganesh Chaturti. Do visit again for there is more on the topic.
Happy Ganesh Chartuti.