What really makes the metro dwellers charged up is the on and off festivals we celebrate. Otherwise life in metros becomes monotonous after the initial hype especially for those who have landed here from remotest corners with hopes of a bright future. After Viswakarma Jayanti is the Ganesh Chaturthi which is a festival of sumptuous menu. Normally Indian festivals have a variety of ways to celebrate each festival like Diwali is celebrated with fireworks and Sankranti with freshly harvested rice, and the Durga Pooja or the Vijaya Dasami in an altogether different ways with dolls exhibition (Golu).

But Ganesh festival is celebrated by one and all of the Hindu society with sumptuous delights. While the celebrations are most popular in states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The other places also do celebrate the festival but in rather calmer way. The south is a pet to the Lord, but all the above states make the event a rejoicing one. The hype for the festival is increasing year after year by leaps and bounds. especially the immersion day after the ten days carnival is the largest gathering of any sorts. And the moments are worthily cherished.

As per the Hindu myth Lord Ganapati is the son made from the paste obtained from the body of the  divine mother Parvati the wife of Lord Shiva. Ganesh is given life by the goddess to protect the women clan when the males are out on a war. Shiva on returning from a war is stopped by this protector of woman. Infuriated Shiva beheads the small boy with out knowing that he is his own son legally. Then realizing his folly he commands his lieutenants to bring in the first head that lies in the north direction. And after severe search an Elephants head is brought. The boy regains life with the head by the grace of the Lord. And then on he becomes the pet of the parents, like most of us.

Just like at home, he was also well fed by his parents and hence his movement was a little low due to the over weight. Adding to that our Bal Ganesh had a small rat as his vehicle to give it a better position in life. On one such occasions he was traveling across the skies after heavily gorging on the delicacies at a rather slow speed. Looking at his woos the Moon good out on a stroll (due to ill luck) laughs at him. This infuriates the Bal Ganesh and he curses the Moon, saying that those who look at him shall face all turmoil. Realizing the intensity of the curse the Moon God urges Bal Ganesh to excuse his impudence and show him the way out.

Moved the plight of the Moon God, Bal Ganesh asks him not to worry and said the best solution would be for the people to worship him on the Shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period), in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada. And this year we celebrate the festival on Wednesday (September 19). Wishesh wishes all our readers a Happy Ganesh Chaturti. And kindly go green in celebrations to save water from pollution. An ideal way to get the blessings of the Lord with no harm to anyone. (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)