(Ganpati above by Aarti. One of my favorites)
I'm in the elevator. My eyes fixed on the box in my mothers hand. My mother cant help but notice the gleeful glint in my eye. 'puje nantar modak milnar' (you'll get the modaks after the puja) she says. I smile. But my anticipation surpasses those of my tastebuds. I can already feel the warmth and the calming presence of my grandmother. She would've been up since 3 in the morning putting everything together. She's been doing so as long as i can remember. Finally, the 9th floor. My sister runs and then on her toes, stretches the best she can to reach for the bell. My father gives her the extra lift as she giggles and goes at the bell twice in quick succession. Our signature ring. My grandfather greets us. Regulation peck, hug and asshirwad. He looks at me. 'Im older than but you're still fatter' he says. We both laugh. And then we make us ourselves into the bedroom. On the right, in what was once the balcony, now fully enclosed, sits Lord Ganesha in what is a meticulously but wonderfully arranged miniature temple. A bloom of light purs from the rippled glass leaving a jewelled texture on the platform. The incense fills my head with ever lasting memories. But it's not the bigness of the arrangement or even the idol that fills my heart. It is the bigness of my grandmothers heart who has given all of us so much. She in herself is the only person (now besides my own mother) who i saw what true faith felt like. I may have been an agnost all my life, but in her presence i was a mere follower....but a follower of someone beautiful and wise. She wraps her hands over my eyes. 'Maaaa!!' Such tenderness can only be hers. We start the puja and then its my favorite part. the aarti.
It's five below and the snow billows outside. But my memories seem to have retained the warmth. The sound from my room mates laptop has stopped. Its been so long. About four years ago even his holiness coudn't have found a better devotee. But jealous as he was of the love she drew instead of him, his move was obvious. It's ironic. The same aarti that invokes such sentiment in me sings praise of him. Nonetheless, what a beautiful song... especially when she sung it. She truly was my 'sukhakarta dukhaharta'!!
sukhakarta dukhaharta warta wighnachee
(Lord Ganesh, creator happiness; destroyer of sorrow)
nurawee purawee prem kripa jayachee
(who makes news of calamity disappear, whose blessing gives enough love)
sarwangee sundara uti shendurachee
(who has beutiful orange in his body)
kantee zhalakee mal mukatphalanchee
(a pearl necklace shining around his neck)
jayadev jayadev jay mangal murtee
(pray to this auspicious ido, praise the god)
darshanamatre manakamana puratee
(by his mere sight, your wishes come true)
jayadev jayadev
ratnakhachita phara tudza gaureekumara
(The jewel crown is for you, son of parvati)
chandanachee utee kumakumakeshara
(sandalwood ointment on his body, saffron red tilak on his forehead)
hiredzadita mukuta shobhato bara
(the jewelled crown looks so beautiful)
runadzhunatee nupure charanee ghagariya
(the tinkling bell anklet make a sweet sound)
jayadev jayadev jay mangal murtee
(pray to this auspicious ido, praise the god)
darshanamatre manakamana puratee
(by his mere sight, your wishes come true)
jayadev jayadev
lambodar peetambar phaniwara-bandhana
(a big belly, with a yellow silk garment, and serpent around the waist)
saral sond wakratunda trinayana
(a straight trunk bent at the end, and with three eyes)
das ramatsa wat pahe sadana
(Ramdas (author) awaits you, praying at home)
sankate pawawe nirwanee rakshawee surawara wandana
(Bless us when there is trouble, and protect us from disaster)
jayadev jayadev jay mangal murtee
(pray to this auspicious ido, praise the god)
darshanamatre manakamana puratee
(by his mere sight, your wishes come true)
jayadev jayadev
