There would be hardly anyone among us who has not grown up listening to stories about Lord Ganesha and his antics and playfulness. Children, therefore, find in Ganesha a playful little boy just like them and so they too love celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi every year with their parents. Orissa POST met with a few kids who shared their plans for this year’s Ganesh Puja.
Baibhav, a Class IV student of Mount Litera Zee School, Jajpur said, “Lord Ganesha is known as the god of knowledge and wisdom. Therefore, the whole atmosphere is charged with devotion and everyone seeks his blessings to do well in life. This apart, it is great fun to join my siblings and decorate the home with colourful paper ribbons, flowers and lights. We worship Lord Ganesha early in the morning and then go to school. The best part about the puja is that nobody asks us to study on this day. So, my cousins and I visit the puja pandals in the city in the evening. Although the celebration continues for some more days, we don’t get the opportunity to enjoy due to the re-opening of our school.”
Chiranjeev Das, a student from BMPS Takshila School in Bhubaneswar, says, “Like every year, we will be decorating our home a couple of days in advance of the festival. My father has brought a small idol from the market. For me, the day is important as it turns out to be an opportunity to have a family get-together. This year, my aunty, uncle and grandparents will come from Jajpur to take part in the puja at our home. Apart from that, we will visit puja pandals in the city in the evening. Another attraction of the day is that every year my mom prepares some delicious delicacies and we all look forward to that. Last year, we went to Cuttack as Ganesh Puja is celebrated there in grand style. I also wait for the day for another reason, we don’t have to open our books to study. I think it is not only me, many students eagerly wait for this festival for that reason.”
Like Chiranjeev, Bhabya Bharat from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sambalpur also waits keenly for Ganesh Puja. “It is not only Ganesh Puja,we eagerly wait for all other pujas celebrated at home. We have already started decorating our home with fancy items. My father has ordered five types of sweets and my mother has a list of dishes she will prepare that day. I have invited a few of my friends to join us. The whole day is special as this is the only day I am allowed to take a break from studies and enjoy with my friends. This apart, dad has brought a nice pink frock for me for this occasion. I am really excited.”
Anwesh Anshutam, a Class II student of Carmel English Medium School, Khurda says, “On Ganesh Puja we install an earthen idol of Lord Ganesha at home and worship it strictly following the rituals. Earlier, my parents didn’t do the puja. They started only after I was born. On the eve of the puja, I go shopping with my father to get new clothes and fruits to be offered to the God. My mother prepares traditional Odia dishes like Khichdi, Dalma, Kheeri and Khata. This year, I have invited some of my school friends to enjoy the puja at our home.
SOYONG, OP
