Ganesh Chaturthi - A Traditional Festival Of Incredible Family Unity Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

Everyone keeps running
to their hometowns,
leaving their jobs, their tools
and their work commitments.
They want to rush and reach
to their native houses
for Ganesh Chaturthi.
As they enter the doorstep,
they see Lord Ganesha
sitting there graciously
under the Matoli - a wooden canopy
which is decorated with seasonal fruits,
flowers and leaves;
He does not speak at all
but everyone who worships Him
knows what he likes;
devotees place before Him various fruits
mangoes, oranges, bananas,
apples, grapes and much more
but His favorite is a sweet dish
called ‘Modak' which is placed before Him
and also distributed to the worshippers
after a Puja is performed.
Lord Ganesha is regarded by the Hindus
as the God of Wisdom, knowledge
and prosperity;
Hindus believe He helps
to remove obstacles from one's path.
Ganesha was the youngest son of Lord Shiva;
so Ganesh festival is celebrated
with zest and vigor
in many towns and villages,
in many States and cities of India.
After keeping the Ganesh idol
for a few days in their homes,
people immerse the idol in water
chanting aloud prayers beseeching Him
to return back soon next year.
It is the magnitude of reverence
that Hindus hold within their hearts
that make them cluster together
and celebrate their festival with fervor;
it is their ambience and devotion
that makes them decorate their homes
with matoli of colors
with fruits and flowers
with green leaves and bright lights;
it is the gaiety and joy that marks
and reveals the cheerfulness
that the Hindus truly enjoy
in their respective households;
it is the Ganesh Chaturthi
that invokes and promotes unity
as it brings entire families
and their generations together
at one time of the year
whether they are far or near,
whether they are friends or enemies
whether they are young or old,
Lord Ganesha joins them together
at this time of the year
when Ganesh Chathurthi sparks
the excitement and enthusiasm
of common religious veneration
and combined celebration
holding no borders nor boundaries
holding no ill feelings nor hatred
but ensuing feelings of unity and harmony
among families to get together
and depict their love and respect
for one common tradition
called the Ganesh Chaturthi.