Of Modaks and Mice

Mice generally evoke a reaction of revulsion and hatred from most people. Yet the humble mouse has been adopted by the God of Wisdom himself as his vehicle. Once a year he enjoys great attention as almost every household in India welcomes Lord Ganesh and his vehicle into their house. However the festival of Ganeshotsav is celebrated as a public festival especially in Maharashtra. The reason for this the freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. He used this festival as a means of getting communities together and get around the ban the British rulers had imposed on public gatherings. In Mumbai, the festival is celebrated in a HUGE way. Traffic along major roads has to be diverted and the people come out in the millions to see the various shows put out by public celebration committees. Every year me and my family used to go on a two day weekend outing visiting various pandals especially in the Parel-Lalbaug area of Mumbai. It is a sight to see and an experience to remember.
Another thing to remember about Ganeshotsav is the Modaks, the favourite sweet of the Lord. People say that the modak represents knowledge which the God of Wisdom partakes of. To me however, the modak represented a filling of shredded coconut mixed with elaichi and melted jaggery (not sugar, jaggery) in a dough covering fried to perfection by my granny (a.k.a the greatest cook in the world).
Of course after coming to the US, I miss all these great things. But a few of us students come together every year and celebrate Ganeshotsav as best as we can. This year it's the day after tomorrow on 18th. And preparations are in full swing from the makhar (the decorative seating for the God), Modkas, Shira to the murti and sundry items required for the puja. It's a way for all of us to make up for the great time we are missing and to feel closer to home than we actually are. Watch this space for pictures of the celebration.