GANESHA CHATURTHI CELEBRATIONS AT ASB
In the tradition of ASB to celebrate festivals that vibrantly display the Indianness of our students from all across the country. We had a 5 day Ganesha Chaturthi celebration in the campus, entirely managed by students, from 15th to 19th of September 2007.
Ganesha Chaturthi is traditionally celebrated on the 4th day after the amavasya of the Asvini month. It is a 3 to10 day period of celebration and prayers directed to the Hindu God of wisdom and problem solving. In parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat the fervour for this festival has a different flavour altogether. Several students hailing from the western parts of India took initiative and roped in the entire college for celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi.
The event needed meticulous planning and lots of hard work for the actual thing to take shape and by the grace of Ganesha, all went through effortlessly and with utmost joy. Decoration of the Mandap, preparing the idol, inviting the staff and professors in the campus, going shopping and so many other umpteen tasks; were completed overnight by the sheer enthusiasm and group effort by one and all.
The sthapna of the idol was undertaken after an elaborate pooja archna and aarti by the priest on the Saturday evening. It was attended by students, teachers and staff. The joy and love for our beloved Ganesha, was expressed beautifully in the form of prayers and bhajans by students and teachers alike. The entire campus was resonating with the melodious bhajans and heartfelt prayers to Lord Ganesha. We all committed ourselves to participate wholeheartedly in the event.
The next morning it was not at all surprising to see so many students gathered at 7.30am, an hour before the regular class schedule, to perform pooja archana before our Beloved Ganesha idol. This was again repeated in the evening where hymns and prayers were sung with love and devotion. This continued for the next day as well. The morning and evening prayer sessions were whole heartedly attended by students and faculty members.
The cultural events were planned for Wednesday the 18th of September where several events were lined up for the evening. Just after the regular class schedule, at 5.30 P.M., all students assembled at the Sri Krishna Hall. The lighting of the lamp by the Dean and the prayer song in the mellifluous voice of Rama started the string of events. Several innovative ‘In-One-Minute’ games were played and enjoyed by one and all. Sipping as much lime juice, blowing as many balloons, eating as many bananas- all this in just one minute. The participants and spectators were all equal winners in the amount of thrill and joy we all experienced. The icing on the cake was an impromptu group dance by boys with the song ‘Moriya moriya’ from the movie ‘Don’ playing in background.
As all good things have to come to an end, the ‘visarjan’ (immersion of the idol) had to take place the next evening on the 19th of September. Loud drumbeats and ‘Moriya Moriya’ chanting mob that assembled before the main block at 5 P.M., marked the fervour with which the procession had to proceed. It was Banerjee Sir who led the singing, dancing and joyous pack of students and staff members around the campus.
Gaiety and fervour were overflowing among the students as we sang and danced our way through the ASB campus. With silent prayers in the heart and songs on the lips of all of us students, we bid a goodbye to our beloved Ganesha idol.
The entire five day celebration bonded us to each other and by grace of our beloved Ganesha helped us learn so much from this experience.
O the remover of obstacles in life, we wish you stay in our hearts each moment of our lives and do visit us next year with even more prosperity and joy.
With Special Thanks to Prof. Uday Kumar, Hardik Bhatt, Gajanan, Amardeep, and all the faculty, students and staff members.
Inputs: Web Committee
Manu Gaurang
1st MBA
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