Actor Rohin Joshi, who is currently seen in the Zee TV show Ganga Mai Ki Betiyan, shares a special connection with Ganesh Chaturthi and the memories associated with the festival. While the actor grew up celebrating the festival with his family in Vadodara, experiencing the grand scale of Ganpati celebrations in Mumbai gave him a completely different perspective on the occasion.
Talking about what Ganesh Chaturthi means to him today and how living in Mumbai has influenced his experience of the festival, Rohin says, “Even though the festival was a big deal at home, the scale at which it is celebrated in Mumbai was a surprise when I first experienced it back in college. I haven’t actively participated in the festivities for a while now, but I am used to all the hustle and bustle, and the dhol and DJ on Ganesh Chaturthi and the main Visarjan day. So, not being in Mumbai, especially at this time of the year, feels a bit weird.”
For Rohin, some of his fondest memories of the festival come from his childhood days in Vadodara, where Ganpati celebrations were a family affair. Recalling one such tradition, he shares, “My mom used to make Aate ke laddoos at home, which I used to gorge on, and all of us used to do Ganpati Pooja together and then go out looking at all the different Ganeshji moortis at the society pandals in Vadodara. Of course, Mumbai takes Ganesh Chaturthi to a whole different level, but honestly, the celebrations in Vadodara are pretty amazing too.”
Lord Ganesha is widely revered as Vighnaharta, the remover of obstacles, but Rohin also finds inspiration in another aspect associated with the deity — new beginnings. He says, “Apart from being the remover of obstacles, he is also known as the god of new beginnings. I am reminded of all the things I thought of starting but have been delaying for a while at Bappa’s mention and especially during Ganesh Chaturthi.”
With festivals becoming increasingly grand and commercialised, Rohin believes it is important to look beyond the celebrations and reconnect with their deeper meaning. “Celebrations and the general festivities are good as they give all of us a change of pace and some time outside our daily lives, but I feel we should treat the festivals as a day to self-reflect in the light of the events or deities or the great human beings they are celebrated for,” he says. “And Ganeshji being the God of wisdom, we can at least take some time to delve into wisdom literature.”
Food, of course, remains an integral part of any Indian festival, and Ganesh Chaturthi is no exception. While modaks were not part of Rohin’s childhood food memories, his time in Mumbai has made him develop a liking for them. However, his vegan lifestyle means finding the right modak can sometimes be a challenge. “I didn’t grow up eating modak, but I’ve grown to love them since I shifted to Mumbai. But I turned vegan 6 years back, and I find it difficult to find one without a filling made in ghee,” he shares.
Despite discovering a love for modaks, it is his mother’s homemade laddoos that continue to hold a special place in his heart. “Also, I love the Aata laddoos full of dry fruits that Mom used to make during Ganesh Chaturthi every year,” Rohin concludes.
