GANESHA BLESSED OUR NATIVE WELL
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.” Ralph Waldo Emerson I n the village I grew up (in Mangalore), Ganesh Chaturthi was known as ‘Chauthi’ . Our house was surrounded by many families of different faiths. Days were simple and innocent – trust in each other was pure. I remember, on every important Hindu festival like Chauthi, Krishna Ashtami or Deepavali, our Hindu neighbours would send us their delicacies, and on Christmas, Easter and Nativity Feast (Mother Mary’s birthday), our family would do the same… This tradition was started by my grandparents, continued by my parents and, today, the family of my eldest brother and his wife (who live there) still follow it… There is great pride and simple joy concealed in this act… The flowers from our courtyard had, always, reached Hindu households to adorn Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna and Lord Rama… Our GSB neighbours, year after year, immersed their Ganpathi idol in our well… “Our well wat...