Every year
during this time, we head to my native town, Dharmasthala where we join our extended family from my dad’s
side in the celebration of Ganesha Chaturthi at the family ancestral home. This
has been our family tradition ever since I can remember and so it was only
natural that I continued the same post marriage and now have Abhay and in the
future have our little one tag along with us! Barring the three years that we
were in the US, we’ve been regulars at this annual family event and given our
busy lifestyles, this is often the only time we get to meet our relatives and extended
family. So much so that this is something Abhay has come to look forward to
every year wherein he does not remain a mute spectator to the festivities but whole-heartedly participates in some of events surrounding the celebrations like the
pooja and the bhajan session that goes on till the twilight hours followed by
the visarjana next morning. It feels
nostalgic to see Abhay get into a competition mode with his cousins in the
singing of bhajans, taking time off to rehearse the same in advance before the ‘final
show’! Can’t blame him as I guess it sort of runs in the family as I used to
exhibit the same spirit during my growing up years and I see the same vying
attitude still displayed by my father and his hexagenarian brothers! :-)
Though it is
more than a week since the festival, Ganesh Chaturthi festivities extend a
whole ten days in many parts of the country with many neighbourhoods hosting
their own Ganesha events around many cities, including Bangalore..…so the celebration
of “Ganesha” is far from over. So my post on Ganesha Chaturthi (a must post
occasion on Onestoryaday) can hardly be deemed out of place..isn’t it?? Anyway….there’s
never a wrong time for good books and for this occasion, we read “ Ganesha’s
Sweet Tooth” by Sanjay Patel and
Emily Haynes and illustrated by Sanjay Patel, an Indian American animator
with Disney’s Pixar who has authored many books on the Hindu Mythology for western
audience, whose retelling of Ramayana we’ve read before. Often deemed as a hipster’s guide to Hindusim, Sanjay Patel’s books
present the mythological tales in an entertaining narrative packed with tongue-in
cheek humour and quirky dialogues mirroring the recent Disney flicks that we’ve
come to enjoy. Aided with vibrant illustrations, the authors take the creative
liberty of adding a few fun elements and amusing scenes, while retaining the
overall essence of the legend. We all know the story of how Lord Ganesha broke
his tusk that eventually proved to be a blessing in disguise for the great Vyasa
to put down his story of Mahabharata in writing. But did you know it was the “Super-Jumbo Jaw
Breaker Laddoo” that was responsible for him landing with a broken tusk,
despite being warned by his best friend, whom he fondly called Mr. Mouse? Or as
Ganesha hurls his tusk at the moon in frustration, it lands on an old man who
happened to be the great poet Vyasa looking for a scribe to pen Hindu Mythology’s
most famous epic. With a little goading, Ganesha no longer resents his broken
tusk as he realizes it’s true worth and with the able assistance of Mr. Mouse
who helps Ganesha understand the “terms of agreement”, Ganesha sets out to do
the formidable task….and the rest is history! We loved the authors’ contemporary
presentation of an age old tale in a manner that the children are able to
relate to. Of course, the graphic illustrations are the book’s piece de
resistance, that are not only striking in colours and imagery but truly represent
India’s rich and vibrant mythological heritage which sets this book apart from
any other mythological series we’ve read before. So along with all the goodies
and festive treats to satisfy your sweet tooth…bring home Ganesha’s too!! Enjoy
the festive season everyone…!!:-)
