The 10-day Ganesh festival brings to the fore the amalgamation of spirituality, devotion, service, servitude, humanity and humility. The celebrations in Hyderabad are unique. The immersion procession on the concluding day witnesses a sea of humanity with lakhs of devotees participating.
The celebrations have been increasing every year. It was 1980 when I, along with of friends and residents of Nehrunagar in Ramanthapur, formed a youth organisation to celebrate the festival. Inspired by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, we named the organisation Netaji Yuva Jana Sangham.
At that time, not many people came forward to fund our organisation. We prepared puja books of Rs 11 and Rs 101 towards puja charges for the navaratris. Our youth organisation was different from other similar bodies in the sense that we gave more importance to our ancient culture and traditions. We used to set up Ganesh pandals on traditional lines. Exclusive puja was conducted for students on particular days. On the other days the elderly were involved in bhajans. Rangoli competitions were held for girls.
Many swamis including the heads of Kanchi, Sarada and Pushpagiri peethams have visited the Ganesh mandapams set up by us in the last 30 years. The Ganesh festival has taught us a lot. It gave us an experience in finance management, accounting, event organisation, besides increasing our spirituality. Competitions among different mandapam organisers such as kabaddi, running and rangoli were organised. The festival also brings patriotism to the fore. Ganesh idols in different avatars made up of different colours and different sizes attract devotees.
Things have changed a lot in the last three decades. Now small children are organising Ganesh mandapams. Community participation too has increased. Families in the neighbourhood contribute puja flowers and prasadam on a daily basis.
There were Kargil Ganesh idols too. Last year, some organisers in Habsiguda installed a pandal with Anna Hazare watching the Ganesh puja. The laddu prasadam of Balapur makes miracles happen every year. The auction goes as high as lakhs of rupees and hundreds of people participate in it.
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