Pudhchyavarshi lavkar ya

Pillayar Chaturthi is one festival I really look forward to, more than Deepavali or Pongal. Back home in Madras, we used to buy our cute Mann pillayar + kudai + red and black beads at Triplicane the evening before Chaturti. Songs like 'Vinayagane vinay teerpavane' , ' Kaakkum kadavul Ganesanai...' ' Vaelanukku moothavane..' and other Seerkazhi's numbers were on high rotation in neighborhood kovils' playlists on D-day and poojai at home was very elaborate with full meals and different varieties of kozhukattais. One had to 'see' as many Pillayars as one could. So we'd Pillayar-hop from one temple to another and do a Pillayar-report at the end of the day with our respective numbers to Paatti . It was usually above 50... including the ones we saw on Doordarshan - the idol behind a singing T L Maharajan and Pillayar photos at home. A palanquin with a Ganesh idol was carried from home to home by neighboorhood kids and it was quite entertaining to see them sing and ask for our contribution in their Undiyal. Pillayar Chaturthi is big in Mumbai with ten days of high (decibel) level celebrations. At home, I try and recreate the same atmosphere by playing Seerkazhi's songs on Pillayar Chaturthi day. Most Ganpati idols sold in Mumbai are the ones with the naamam. Not wanting to 'Karamadu -Saathumadufy' my Pillayar, I buy Him at an authentic South Indian store where you get 'namma ooru - pucca pillayars, in techni-color though. We don't get Mann pillayars here which, I believe are the most authentic versions. During my initial years in Mumbai, I tried to make kozhukuttais but was never successful. Having been inspired by the Shahrukhs and Suryas of filmdom, for the last couple of years our Pillayar is on a perennial diet with Paal and pazham for Neivedhyam .

Ganpati Visarjan is a low-key affair for us. At home in Madras, we used to take Him by scooter to the nearby well on the 3rd day after the festival. Here in Mumbai, he is usually chauffeured to the nearby lake and Visarjan-ed.

This year, when a friend suggested that I be part of an activity where a corporate 'sponsors' my Visarjan, I was all excited... and decided to extend Ganpati's stay at home for two more days. Today being the fifth day after Ganpati, His visarjan was 'sponsored' by a corporate. At around 11.30 sharp He was greeted with 'dhols' and 'drums' at the entrance of our building. He was carried to the truck which was beautifully decorated with flowers. Our neighbors wondered whatever happened to this quiet-unassuming (ya ya... its us!) couple in their neighboorhood. In a huge truck was perched, our little Pillayar-patti hero. After non-stop dhamaal for ten full minutes, he bid adieu to us... It was truly a memorable Visarjan for us! Thanks SG and GS!

... Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhchyavarshi lavkar ya! See you next year dude!