Ganesh Chaturthi: Welcoming positivity with Ganpati Bappa

Bollywood goes eco-friendly

Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Neil Nitin Mukesh were spotted collecting the Ganpati idols in Mumba. Wearing gloves and a mask, Shilpa was seen in a pink salwar kameez, performing rituals before bringing Bappa home. On the other hand, Neil Nitin Mukesh brought his 27th Ganpati to his new home in South Mumbai.

Neil said, “This year’s theme is dedicated to ‘new beginnings’ and is the very first time we have got an eco-friendly bappa home. With Covid-19, I feel each one of us has realised there is so much harm that the human race has caused to Mother Earth. The only practical way forward is that we need to embrace more eco-friendly measures to protect the universe or else we are all heading towards doomsday.”

Changed lives: Mohit Malhotra

Like every year, we have got Bappa home this year also. Though the celebration won’t be the same, we intend to continue with the ritual. This time also it will be an eco-friendly Ganpati festival. We will have friends and family visit us, but with all the safety and precautions. I pray Bappa gets our lives back to normal.

Friendly fun: Sharad Malhotra

Bringing Ganpati home is a tradition and I did not want to miss out this year too. This is my 10th year of bringing Bappa home and I wanted it to be very special. But because of the pandemic, we couldn’t do much. Ripci (his wife) and I are doing everything on our own, and we will have a few friends come over for puja and aarti.

Different take: Vijayendra Kumeria

It will be different this year, but I am sure Ganpati Bappa will take away our sorrows and all the negativity, and bless us with joy. We have been bringing Bappa home since last three years. This year, the only difference will be that we won’t be visiting friends and other pandals in the city.

Prayers only: Khusbhoo Kamal

I used to get Ganpati home every year, but this year I will miss Bappa. I am not bringing Ganpati home this year because of the pandemic. I will keep the fast and go to the temple for prayers. I will pray to Bappa to end Covid-19.

Seeking blessings: Shilpa Raizada

I had brought my first Ganpati home three years back and his blessings are so magical that in the first year itself I got Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. I will not be bringing Ganpati home this year due to Covid-19 though. I wish that the pandemic gets over soon and our life goes back to normal. I will pray for it.

Good vibes: Aarvika Gupta

I have made my own Ganpai idol, so it will be eco-friendly and we won’t have to go anywhere for visarjan. The best part of the festival is the moment bappa steps in our home, the whole vibe changes. I wish Bappa to give strength to everyone during these testing times.

Keep it safe: Rishina Kandhari

We don’t get Bappa home. So, I will be visiting my bua (aunt) and a couple of close friends, who are following all the safety norms and are keeping social-distancing in mind. Many of them are calling only two guests at a time for aarti.