ganpati festival in colony part III

The last day of the festival was eagerly awaited. Morning poojas as usual and there was a bit of nostalgia for the good days gone by and the friendships fostered. We went back home just to take a break and be back for the community lunch. Yes, all residents were requested not to make lunch in their homes but to join in 'langar'. I believed that there would be catering service. But just as we were coming out of the morning pooja with heavy prasad, we saw huge vessels on the stoves near the library/play area. I also saw some ladies cutting vegetables. Some of the houses had engaged cooks on a regular basis and they were 'leased out' to the colony function on that day! It came as a good surprise to me, so I lent a hand in cutting cucumber for the salad.

Lunch was a great experience. No it was not the menu which was quite homely and tasty. It was the service! We sat on the floor and were served by fellow calyxians with lots of love and affection. In true Indian tradition, we were asked and served repeatedly all the items on the menu. After a very satisfying experience we retired for a while only to be back for the prize giving ceremony and the visarjan pooja by priest thereafter.

Then the volunteers carried the main deity and other calyxians carried the smaller 'personal ganpathi idols which had been added on to the main deity during the week.A procession around the colony accompanied by crackers and loud chanting of 'ganpati pappa moriya' and then the journey to the lake began. While the main deity was carried in a van, many of us followed in our own vehicles and it made a big procession in the winding roads to the Begur lake. We saw other ganpati idols getting ready for the 'visarjan' on the way.Thankfully there was not much crowd and we were able to go near the waters and amid chantings were able to perform the immersion. Couple of boys were around to take the ganpati right inside the lake and ensure he gets a proper immersion. There was a small girl with her parents who did not want to let go of 'ganesha', and kept saying 'no go ganesha, no go'. Her mother pacified her saying he is not going anywhere, he will come next year.

We got back to the colony and felt like coming home soon after performing a family wedding!