Every year you visit without
Fail.
And as you come, the joy and
Rains follow.
Every year you're here for
10 days ;
10 days of joy and blessings for
Us, mortals.
You arrive from the sky,
Depart in the sea.

Every year when you visit,
You give us strength to carry on.
The god of wisdom and destroyer of
Evil,
Thank you for coming to our
Humble cottage.

We start preparing months before
Your arrival.
The artisans start building
Miniatures of you from June till mid
August.
By the last week of august,
You're all coloured and happy ;
Recieving your signature details
And choosing your home.

O’ Gajanan!
Giver of wisdom and destroyer of
Problems;
The glorious son of Shiva and
Parvati,
Give us peace to exist;
Hope for survival, and
Strength for shades of life.
Help us build resilience,
As we bow down to your feet.

I look forward to doing your
Aarti and welcoming you home.
You keep us safe -- this is the least
We could do,
Cater you.

The 5 Aartis follow from :
Sukharata-Dukharata to
GhalinLontangara.
The table you're placed Infront of
Carries all your favourite items!
Lover of modaks,
Never dim out light.
Friend of the holy rat Musika,
Come be ours for a period of
10 days.

The diya never dances with the
Wind,
It's always burning and helping you.
The rich ghee makes the diya pure.

The pooja ki thali has -
Kumkum, Haldi, Sindoor,
Chaval, Doodh, Agarbatti
And Modak,
All for you.

O’ Gajanan!
With your elephant face and human
Body,
You look ever so mighty!
Your bright eyes bring peace to the
World.
This year you're decked with jewels
And adorn the light-orange dhoti and
Mukut.
There's a modak in your left hand,
A mala in your right.
You are covered in an ocean of
Flowers with the nav grah &
Agarbattis catering to you;
Being your messengers.
There's a kalash with a nariyal on
The right with your soul in it.
Everyday after Aarti,
We give the prasad and the
Heavenly fire of the diya to those
Entering our abode.

When you come, you bring music &
Peacocks with you.
When you go, the sea and rains bid
You a farewell.
The sky bows down to your feet and
Asks for blessings before you depart.
As you go, the music follows.
Before the sea welcomes his son back,
We do an aarti ;
Leaving them to greet each other.
The sky turns a shade of pink - lotus
And violet paint as you go.
The rains seal your departure with a kiss,
And all we can say is —
Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Purcha Varshi, Laukar Ya!

(Written on the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi)

- Ridhima Joshi