A time to celebrate…

The countdown to our anniversary begins. It was nine months down in August. We congratulated each other over a chicken burger and Coke at Mc Donald’s. September began with birthdays, my mother-in-law and dad had their birthdays on the 1st and 2nd Sept respectively. Flower bouquets reached both residences quite early in the day and telephone calls followed. Yesterday was Ganesh Chaturthi, the start of a ten-day (this year it’s twelve days) celebration till the Visarjan when Ganesh idols are immersed at various beaches all over Bombay. A few lakes in Thane are also chosen for immersion although one isn’t sure how safe it is if residents will be using the lake water. Bombay seas are already eco unfriendly.

I went over the area I live in, visiting people who have Ganesh idols at home. A public school here has the Ganesh idol in its premises and made a fantastic decoration scene of the different forts and legendary warriors of Maharashtra, foremost among the warriors being, of course, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. We visited the temple and one other pandal nearby. While the temple had a fixed installation, the pandals would soon immerse their idols depending on the day they chose. The housing society I live in usually brings in Ganesh every year but this year, an important committee member passed away and there was a joint decision to not bring in the idol this time. It’s usually the rule that once you decide to get the idol and immerse it, following various rituals and important days, you must follow the tradition through without break. They broke it this year. I don’t know what the repercussions are, but it’s a matter of faith, which one believes must remain unbroken.

We had a good holiday although I worked and so did my husband, but we relaxed and had some fun in that process. We would take small breaks and engage in harmless banter or just talk about nothing in particular. Last night, though, we had a serious discussion on the future. My usually upbeat husband was a bit depressed, wallowing in some negative thoughts and uncertainties, but we talked it over and he felt much more positive. Even for me, talking always helps.
Nine months over. Three to go.