Who ever said that we are losing our cultural identity needs to visit Mumbai during Ganeshotsav.I have been visiting friends and family for Ganpati Darshan. And I am now convinced, that every and any one in India believes in this dictum.
The minute we step in someone`s house ,barely have we bowed our heads to Ganesh, the drinks appear. No amount of earnest pleadings for a glass of plain water are acknowledged. “How can you have only water? No, No ,have this fresh juice”.Or ,”Try this Khas Sherbet. Maasi send it last week”. Or, “You have to have this Blue Lagoon. My friend from Hong Kong send me the recipe.”So there we go sipping exotically named Mocktails, Fizzycolas, Sherbets etc. But plain water? No Sir, not at all. We are guests- how can we have that?
And this special treatment is not reserved for drinks only. Snacks follow.”Aise Kaise. Prasad hain. You have to eat a little”. So every where we go we eat at least 2 pieces of any snack, one drink, 1 piece of sweet. This followed by Prasad. But we just had Prasad! “OH HO!That was for you. Take this for rest at home.” So we get fresh fruit, small packets of dry fruits, Modak,/peda/mithai, panjeeri, slices of fresh coconut. And some places small Ganpatis as return gifts. One gave us a set of face napkins with Ganpati embroidered in one corner. Another gave us scented candles.
This year specially, I have tasted various cuisines in the name of Prasad. From paneer pita pockets to hummus and pita bread, to Canneloni to mexican tortillas…you name it and we have had it. Not to be overlooked are the Sweets. Modaks-I tasted at least 20 of the 51 varietes of modaks at a friend`s place. From the traditional one to mawa, blue- berry, strawberry, chocolate, pista, kaju, mango, dry fruit, the list is endless.
So though we are still on the 6th day of Ganpati, (he goes on 14th September) we are already a picture of this cute God. With so much of Prasad we look like mini Ganpatis! DH finally hit the gym this morning in desperation. We still have this whole week to reconfirm our beliefs in traditional values.
p.s. I do wish people would offer their guests a glass of water. I now carry a bottle in my car, lest my host insist on Sherbet et al.
Heheee....really. It sounds like so much fun. U described the scenario so well...cd just imagine it with my eyes closed:-D
ReplyDeleteHhaha, Mini ganpatis was great.
ReplyDeleteYou would really have to give at least an hour each day to take care of the stuff you are gorging on these days. I say this in a mean spirit-cos I m not getting to taste it all, all in the name of Lord Ganesha.
@reflections..it is a lot of fun.only if I didn`t have to eat and drink so much!!
ReplyDelete@Mampi- U joking? The first day I was out from 11 in the morning to 12 midnight!!But that`s also cos of the distances and mad traffic in bombay. Since past 3 days -ya maybe an hour.
I have visited almost all my friends and family. Haven`t gone for any Sarvajanik Pandals though. Lalbaugcha Raja is the most famous here. Alas it takes any thing between 15 to 20 hours just to get a 5 second darshan!!
one hour each day means one hour each day of workout. :)
ReplyDelete@Mampi- nahi ji..in my case at least 2 hours of workout!!just see the amount of food and drinks we are gobbling !!
ReplyDeleteGo anywhere in India and this happens. Actually it's really sweet...maybe after a while too much sweet :)
ReplyDeleteWe should all switch to sharing fruit and dry fruit based prasad and sweets...with no ghee:)
exactly the same thing happens with us on Diwlai:) and i like Indian traditions this way, like some places we go in India also, people ask--wht will u have? and me being what i am will never say--yes we will take some tea or coffe. I will just say -nothing, we just had. and so be it:(.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that whosoever comes to my home shudnt go without partaking anything.There is a saying in hindi--yeh grihastha dharma ha:)
@indianhomemaker..yeah its so sweet ki daibetes na ho jaye!!
ReplyDelete@Renu..Why don`t they ever listen when I say- No thanks!!Pakad pakad kar khilate hain..though honestly even I do the same..when the guests eat something you feel happy and satisfied..guess ingrained into us..
I dont insist so much by my H........he will really go out of the way for any guest.
ReplyDeleteseems you are really having a good time enjoying and trying to emulate ganpati ;). Mumbai is not always the same and I'm sure you'll agree...so enjoy the attention while it lasts...and well I am J! Would love to visit houses and eat parsad too!
ReplyDeletesounds like so much fun! :)
ReplyDeletewowww...we must start something like this in U.P. also!!! u r enjoying im suree
ReplyDelete@Nisha,Piper..yeah it is a lot of fun...
ReplyDelete@Deeplydip- that`s true but fortunately Ganpati time is always good fun..