For over a decade, Ganesh Chaturthi has brought the extended Joshi family together. Aunts, uncles, cousins, young and old, converge at their home (earlier in Tarapur, now in Belapur) to decide on the theme. Years ago, the patriarch laid down just one condition: “There will be no thermocol.” And the ideas would flow thick and fast: paintings made by the children of the family as a backdrop, Ganeshas made of black soil, and even a ‘Gulacha Ganpati’ (a Ganesh carved out of jaggery), inspired by renowned Marathi writer P.L. Deshpande’s film.
The conversations and ideations have since moved to WhatsApp, but are as exciting, Anant Joshi (39), the Sr. Joshi’s son, says. “They go on till the day of the festival, and are usually settled when a chachi (aunt) makes coffee, or a chacha (uncle) buys everyone a round of ice cream.”
The process, begun by Mr. Joshi’s father, was meant to engage everyone in the family creatively and, as a by-product, make it an environment-friendly celebration. “Even as a child, I don’t ever remember thermocol entering the house,” Mr. Joshi, a corporate executive, says. “Our family has never debated whether the murti (idol) would be made of anything but clay. The decorations, too, would not be purchased. Whatever was available at home – saris, dupattas, dress material – would be used for the purpose.”
The family has also worked on a book theme, using everything available at home as a backdrop: photo frames, books, periodicals. Another time, a family member painted a jasmine flower that was stuck on cardboard. They are also open to experimenting with the idol. Two years ago, they did the ‘tree Ganesha’ with black soil. ‘Visarjan’ (immersion) was in their own flower pots. They even had a papier mache idol once. Sculpting the jaggery Ganapati was a contest between siblings and their children. “We had nearly five murtis to choose from, and everyone had a great time in the process.”
This year, the Joshis will make idols from the traditional shadu clay. Mr. Joshi and his wife have made two separate idols, but are yet to paint them. Discussions on a theme can go well into the night. “This year, I’m sure they will stretch till the night of September 13 (Ganesh Chaturthi),” he says, with a chuckle. “We decide these things in a short time, but it’s fun. They require very little effort, but create an impact.”
Through this effort, the Joshis aim at improving family bonding and creative expression, and best of all, have fun in the process. “What happens at a small, family-level will doubtless reflect on a larger scale,” Mr. Joshi says.