Image Caption: An illustrated infographic titled “Ganesha Symbolism.” It shows the Hindu deity Ganesha seated cross-legged, with an elephant head, four arms, large ears, small eyes, a curved trunk, broken tusk, and large belly. Labels around the figure explain the symbolism of each feature, including wisdom, listening, concentration, sacrifice, acceptance of imperfection, and balance between good and bad. A small mouse, Ganesha’s vehicle called Mushak or Musharaja, appears near his feet and represents desires and the restless human mind.
It is that time of year again, when every Mumbaikar in the Bay Area is missing home. The heartbeat of the drums, the excitement along the streets, the orange in the air, and the Ganesha in the middle of it all.
I am not a Mumbaikar, but one of my favorite movies growing up was My Friend Ganesha and one of my favorite cities: Mumbai. My favorite god? The mischievous one. Lotus-eyed. Whose laughter can make the Earth smile.
We’d visit our grandmother in Mumbai every year. On years when we visited during Ganesh Chaturthi, I’d sing Achyutam Keshavam to Ganesha and tell him stories about Krishna. I don’t think he minded. After all, Ganesha listens to everyone. The one who is there for every lonely soul. The one who knows what it means to stand alone.
My mother once told me the story of how Ganesha protected his own mother. He fought even when the world was against him. The Ganas, Deva’s (including Vishnu’s avatars), and still he prevailed (to my dismay).
While my younger self contemplated (for a while) why anyone would want to harm my sweet makhan chor, my older self understands a few important things.
First, no one asked the poor child why he wasn’t letting anyone in, they just attacked. Imagine, you are guarding your mom’s door and people up to a thousand times your age with a hundred times your power attack you. You have no idea why. That’s scary. Ganesha, however, did not focus on the fear but on a single goal: Guard mother’s door.
One child stood fighting for hours for what he believed was right, simply because he believed it was his duty. After the battle, he did not complain about the lack of curiosity. Instead, he became the very person he needed: A large eared, curious listener for everyone.
The one who is there for every lonely soul is the one who knows what it means to stand alone.
In today’s day and age, to be courageous, without fear of judgement, is an important skill. Always make decisions as per a single goal, using morality as a compass, with the companionship of integrity and grit. Whether it comes to the food you eat, the job you choose, when you speak, the way you look, or something as vast as the rise of AI: Never give into peer pressure. If something makes you unhappy, change it. None of these things are inevitable without your consent.
If Ganesha can stand his ground, so can you. If Ganesha can become the person he needed, so can you.
Authored by Mahika Bagri