Actor Pankaj Tripathi opens up about his family celebrations for Ganesh Chaturthi and how the festival has grown in significance in his life.
Pankaj Tripathi’s New Festival Tradition: From Bihar to Mumbai
Growing up in Bihar, Pankaj Tripathi didn’t celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with much fanfare. “In Bihar, the festival isn’t observed as extensively as it is in Maharashtra,” he explains. “My mother would fast and we would perform puja aarti, but that was about it. My real memories of Ganesh Chaturthi are from the past ten years,” he shares.
It was only after moving to Mumbai that Tripathi’s perspective on the festival began to change. “When my daughter was younger, she used to cry on the day of visarjan, feeling sad that Bappa was leaving,” he reminisces. “In a way, this festival has become a part of my journey in Mumbai. It was my karm bhoomi, my place of work, that introduced me to Ganpati Bappa in such a meaningful way.”
Full Celebrations at Home
This year, Tripathi is able to fully immerse himself in the celebrations, something he couldn’t always do in the past due to work commitments. “Until the year before last, I had professional obligations that limited my participation. I could only join in on the days of sthapana (installation) and visarjan (immersion),” he notes. “But this year, I am staying home for all seven days of the festival.”
The celebrations at the Tripathi household are vibrant and communal. “We have around 50 people over every day for lunch or dinner, where we serve food on banana leaf plates,” Tripathi says. “It’s become a celebration not just for our family, but for all our loved ones. We prepare homemade prasad for Bappa, and anyone can come by for darshan (viewing) at any time during the day. This festival brings everyone together.”
Eco-Friendly Festivities
Tripathi is also committed to keeping the celebrations eco-friendly. “We use an environmentally friendly murti (idol), and the visarjan takes place at a small pond near our home,” he explains. “In our culture, we worship the sun, water, and earth. Our festivals are a celebration of nature and the environment.”
A Time for Reflection and Healing
This year’s Ganesh Chaturthi holds special meaning for Tripathi as it comes after a challenging time. Earlier this year, he lost his brother-in-law Rajesh Tiwari in a car accident. “This year, our family has been dealing with a lot of emotional pain,” Tripathi says. “I feel that this festival will help us heal and move forward. Life teaches us to keep going despite the ups and downs.”
For Tripathi, Ganesh Chaturthi is more than just a festival; it’s a time for family, community, and personal reflection. As he celebrates with loved ones and embraces the traditions, he finds solace and connection in the festivities, even amid recent hardships.
