Ganapati Festival is the most celebrated festival in the state of Maharashtra and the state capital, city of Mumbai celebrates the festival with special pomp, vigour and excitement. Moreover, Lord Ganesh called by masses as Bappa with love is the most revered deity of Indians.This festival has created such a fervor that approximately ten to fifteen lakh households and sarvajanik Ganesh mandals together (this figure is only for Mumbai) celebrate Ganesh Utsav in Maharashtra.
Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu has a tradition of celebrating the Ganpati festival at his home in the most pompous, holistic and unique way. Moreover under the guidance of P. P. Bapu, Sadguru Aniruddha Upasana Foundation organizes activities and projects holistically towards management of Ganesh Festival which begin from making eco-friendly Ganapati idols, to managing crowd control operations on the days of immersion and also undertaking re-immersion of idols which fail to immerse in water bodies and are washed to the surface in defaced state. So right from the making of idol i.e. from inception of the festival to end the Foundation contributes to the social good
Eco - Friendly Ganesh Idols Project
These days most of the Ganesh idols are made of PoP (Plaster-of-Paris). When these PoP idols are immersed in sea or inland water bodies such as lakes and streams, they dissolve slowly, and gradually release its harmful components and toxins. The water experiences a rise in acidity as well as gets laced with traces of heavy metals. The toxic waste kills biological (plant) and zoological (animal) life in the water. The best and the most illustrative example of this has been instances of dead fish being washed ashore after the immersion of idols.
In 2004, under the holy guidance of Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu, Aniruddha Aadesh Pathak started the activity of making eco-friendly Ganesh Idols from Ram Naam books which are generated and collected from Aniruddha’s Universal Bank of Ramnaam. This not only makes the idols eco-friendly but also makes them more pious and sacred. In this eco-friendly method Idols are made using paper pulp and other bio-degradable additives (e.g. natural gum, whitener, etc). Moreover non-hazardous eco-friendly paints are used to paint these idols.
Idol making activity which was initially carried out from Bandra, Mumbai from 2003, is now being done at 46 places all over Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, etc Aniruddha Aadesh Pathak has trained more than 1600 volunteers have successfully made more than 5000 idols this year with the biggest idol of 8 feet in height being created. The organization has imparted free training to all interested people, organizations and schools who want to help save the environment.
Managing Crowd Control Operations on the Days of Immersion
Managing Crowd Control Operations on the Days of Immersion
Aniruddha's Academy of Disaster Management or AADM has been the largest contributor of forces towards managing the humongous crowds for any religious or social activities. AADM has been assisting the police and administration authorities and para-military forces, etc in crowd control and even search & rescue operations.
Hence its natural for AADM to also provide DMVs (Disaster Management Volunteers) to assist government authorities in conduction the immersion ceremony successfully, peacefully and orderly. As mentioned earlier AADM the most proud aspect and one more 'feather in the cap' for Aniruddha's Academy of Disaster Management is to be the highest contributor in terms of forces for managing this festival. This year AADM has provided more than 4, 000 of its trained and committed DMVs. AADM is providing assistance at more than 84 immersion spots in just Mumbai alone . Taking into consideration just one spot of Girgaum Chowpatty we find that more than 15 lakh people congregate at Girgaum Chowpatty during the evening of Anant Chaturdashi (The last day of immersion) we can understand the importance of the service that AADM renders.
Moreover it is also observed that Consul Generals and Envoys of almost 45 foreign countries attend the Immersion ceremony at Girgaum Chowpatty and hence the government uses this festival to project Mumbai and this festival on the globally platform to attract tourism and enhance Mumbai’s image internationally which ultimately emboldens and enhances India’s image globally and showcases the discipline in the Indian masses.
These two facts underline the importance of the work that AADM performs.
Hence its natural for AADM to also provide DMVs (Disaster Management Volunteers) to assist government authorities in conduction the immersion ceremony successfully, peacefully and orderly. As mentioned earlier AADM the most proud aspect and one more 'feather in the cap' for Aniruddha's Academy of Disaster Management is to be the highest contributor in terms of forces for managing this festival. This year AADM has provided more than 4, 000 of its trained and committed DMVs. AADM is providing assistance at more than 84 immersion spots in just Mumbai alone . Taking into consideration just one spot of Girgaum Chowpatty we find that more than 15 lakh people congregate at Girgaum Chowpatty during the evening of Anant Chaturdashi (The last day of immersion) we can understand the importance of the service that AADM renders.
Moreover it is also observed that Consul Generals and Envoys of almost 45 foreign countries attend the Immersion ceremony at Girgaum Chowpatty and hence the government uses this festival to project Mumbai and this festival on the globally platform to attract tourism and enhance Mumbai’s image internationally which ultimately emboldens and enhances India’s image globally and showcases the discipline in the Indian masses.
These two facts underline the importance of the work that AADM performs.
Re-immersion of Idols
As mentioned earlier most of the idols of Lord Ganesh these days are usually made of Plaster-of-Paris and, therefore, take a long time to get completely dissolve in water. Consequently, these idols are washed back to the shore, which is a very unpleasant and heartbreaking sight.
Hence Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, Aniruddha Samarpan Pathak and Aniruddha Academy of Disaster Management, undertake the re-immersion of such undissolved and broken idols in the deeper waters with the help of boats every year. The beaches are also fully cleaned and spruced up by all volunteers. This devotional service is carried by the Organization at all major immersion spots in Mumbai like Juhu, Mahim, Versova, Girgaum Chowpatty, etc on the next day after the major immersion days viz., Gauri-Ganpati Visarjan and Anant Chaturdashi.
This year the re-immersion activity was carried out at 7 major beaches across Mumbai, in which 2,545 idols of Lord Ganesh which did not dissolved and were washed on the ashore where re-immersed. 12 trucks of nirmalya or (used flowers) were also disposed off. Here we also need to take notice of a very important fact that 1, 132 DMVs participated in the re-immersion seva even though it being a working day and the day just next to the immersion day when all these DMVs were out in full force and for long hours for crowd control seva.
Hence Shree Aniruddha Upasana Foundation, Aniruddha Samarpan Pathak and Aniruddha Academy of Disaster Management, undertake the re-immersion of such undissolved and broken idols in the deeper waters with the help of boats every year. The beaches are also fully cleaned and spruced up by all volunteers. This devotional service is carried by the Organization at all major immersion spots in Mumbai like Juhu, Mahim, Versova, Girgaum Chowpatty, etc on the next day after the major immersion days viz., Gauri-Ganpati Visarjan and Anant Chaturdashi.
This year the re-immersion activity was carried out at 7 major beaches across Mumbai, in which 2,545 idols of Lord Ganesh which did not dissolved and were washed on the ashore where re-immersed. 12 trucks of nirmalya or (used flowers) were also disposed off. Here we also need to take notice of a very important fact that 1, 132 DMVs participated in the re-immersion seva even though it being a working day and the day just next to the immersion day when all these DMVs were out in full force and for long hours for crowd control seva.
Celebration of Ganpati Festival at Sadguru Aniruddha Bapu's Residence
If I have ever seen the most unique, mammoth and fun-devotion filled celebration of Ganapati festival then it is at Sadguru Bapu's place. The uniqueness starts right from the idol. I haven't seen the Bal Ganesh idol with Lord Dattaguru in background anywhere. The eyes and the idol itself gives you the feeling of a real and live Lord Ganesh sitting in front of you. The arrival of the Lord happens in style with a sizable procession. The festivities last of two and half days and lakhs of people visit Bapu's place even though this is a house-hold celebration that is organized by Bapu's personally. Sadguru Param Poojya Aniruddha, Bapu along with Param Poojya Nandai and Param Poojya Suchitdada Themselves greet the visitors. Poojya Samirdada himself monitors the preparation and operations of the celebration.
On the 3rd day the immersion ceremony starts with a procession which is the biggest anyone would have ever seen in this world for Ganapati visarjan. The procession also has special Lezhim troupe which performs extremely eye-catching and attractive Lezhim. The procession also features 3 - 4 huge DJs which plays some of the best, youthful and electrifying bhakti songs. Everyone in the procession just throngs and dances to the mesmerizing music which is heavenly and thrilling. The people, paedestrians, residents and motor-borne people who happen to see this thunderous and rousing procession are left completely wonder struck and watch the whole procession in awe. A beautifully decorated chariot carries the idol of the Lord Ganesh which features right in the middle of the procession and makes it appear as a beautiful diamond studded in the middle of a necklace of gold. The procession also features huge cut-outs of P. P. Bapu interspersed at regular intervals in the kilometer long procession which clearly articulate promises of Bapu that He has made towards upliftment and enlightenment of common masses and establish Ram Rajya by the year 2025.
Sadguru Param Poojya Aniruddha Himself along with Poojya Samirdada, respected Swapnilsinh and respected Paurassinh participate in the procession. Finally the procession ends at Juhu Chowpatty in the loud chants of "Om Namas Chandikayey!" and "Avdhoot Chintan! Shri Gurudev Datta!". The visitors are served sumptuous and extremely tasty dinner at the end at of the procession at Happy Home and most importantly the fact that most of the times this dinner has been served over the years by Param Poojya Nandai and Param Poojya Suchitdada Themselves. Finally all devotees depart with heavy hearts but fun filled and ecstatic minds.
The above right-up is just the tip of the iceberg. To really experience and enjoy it and feel the thrill of the festivities (in Marathi it is called 'ह्याचि देहि, ह्याचि डोळा') one has to get involved in the festivities whole heartedly. But all the activities described above are just a pointer to the holistic nature of the activities that P. P. Bapu has initiated and driven Himself.
wah!! innovative idea.. provide hanuman chalisa author
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