Amongst many things Pune is famous for, it’s the Ganpati Miravnuk/ Processions that surely leave a mark on the hearts of anyone who witnesses it. it’s a grand celebration of huge moving pandals. It is on such a huge scale that the entire city has to be closed for 48 hours. Some pandals celebrate Bappa’s departure with traditional dance such as lazim with traditional music such as Dhol and Tasha while others choose the technology of DJ music on a huge pile of speakers called a wall of sound. Whatever your mood of celebration, be it traditional or modern, everyone showers their love on our beloved Bappa as he completes his 11-day stay with his devotees. It’s fair to say that Pune City becomes a swelled-up sea of human devotees walking with their depiction of Bappa, all the way toward the immersion site.
I was always very fascinated by these Ganpati Miravnuk/ Processions, the energy, the sound, the dance, and the whole explosion of emotions. Being a disabled individual, I have always watched these Miravnuk/ Processions from afar, always wanting to be part of it, to feel it.
And the opportunity arrived today as if Bappa heard my long-forgotten wish.
I was called in for Aarti of Ganpati Bappa seated at Mahatma Phule Apang Pratishan (MPAPK) school. All the kids, who are disabled in some way or other, were enjoying themselves by playing masterful Dhol and Tasha music. Then we all did Aarti of our Bappa and wished him to come back soon next year.
As per the tradition, our beloved benevolent elephant god, Ganpati visits his devotees for 11 days in this period, and on the 11th day, we need to send him off by immersing his idol in a flowing water body. We, the devotees believe that by immersing in water, the god returns to his heavenly abode, happy to have received love and Moduk (his favorite sweet prasad) from his devotees.
As per the tradition, we all said goodbyes to Bappa. We walked on our crutches, wheelchairs chanting Ganpati Bappa moray, pudchya varshi lavkar ya (come soon again, next year), and other various chats. We celebrated our Bappa’s stay with us, with love and devotion. I got to be part of the entire procession from the Pandal to the immersion. I played Tasha, I chanted, I was colored in gulal. It was all great until we reached the venue of the stream. In the greenery of Maan village, we held our Bappa close to our chest and did one more Aarti. With a teary eye, we wished him goodbye, only with a promise that Bappa must come back soon.
The sun was setting as our Bappa disappeared in the stream of flowing water. We waited; we didn’t want to move but eventually, we had to. We all started our journey back to the school of MPAPK. I wondered, how amazing these boys are.
Yes, they are handicapped. Some have deformed legs, some can’t move without a wheelchair, and some can’t walk straight but with grit, they walked all the way to bid adieu. Disability isn’t their identity at all. Someone is pursuing CA, someone is running a business, someone is an excellent dancer and someone is a musician.
If you ever want to understand the word compassion, pls meet these kids. Kids who could barely walk; were pushing the wheelchair of someone who couldn’t. Kids who had just one arm were using it to carry Dhol so someone can play it during the procession. Kids on crutches were carrying Nirmalya and Prasad for Bappa.
I am so amazed to be associated with this group of kids.
I thank the teachers( Jagtap sir, Kate sir, and other teachers) and all the kids who made my dream come true.
Ganpati bappa Morya, pudchya varshi lavkar ya !!!
P.S.- Our Ganpati Bappa’s Statue was eco-friendly.