Gerald D'Cunha

  “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” Saint Augustine   ‘S ankat me Venkat’ . That’s what God – the Venkat – means to most of us. When everything is going fine for us, mostly, we remember Him out of a deeply-rooted habit – call it a tradition or ritual. God really makes sense to all of us when we are in trouble – sankat! Well, if what I just said sounds sacrilegious, "Lord have mercy on me – this sinner!” Today is Ganesh Chaturthi… The adorable Bappa is at our doors. I saw this picture doing rounds on social media…     Bappa doesn’t fail to amuse us, fascinate and inspire us… The ‘us’ includes all – young and old, the littles babies even… Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Jains, Christians all love Him. They all believe,   that this Lord with an elephant trunk, listens… That, He is compassionate, approachable and adorable. Hence, they all go to Him in the times of their   tests and tribulat...

Y esterday was Ganesh Chathurthi… a great day in our country, particularly in the state of Maharashtra and in the city of Mumbai. Every nook and corner, every lane and the by-lane, every household, be it wealthy or poor, be it a mansion or a slum, Lord Ganesh is the most beloved God here in this city. I have been fortunate to live in this city for over 37 years. And celebrating Ganeshotsav – the festival which transcends every caste, creed and class – is one of my good fortunes. Before I take any step – before I start any of my ventures - small or big, I experience a  deep anxiety in my soul… and I pray to almighty God. “Lord, have mercy on me… Please give me strength and wisdom… Please protect me, guard me… fill me with grace.” Lord Ganesh is believed to be the ‘Vigneshwar’ – the Lord who protects us from calamities,  losses and harm. So, every time I say this prayer, I do evoke Lord Ganesh’s name… But, on another side of the globe, in Texan coas...

Pic,: Chetna Shetty W hat these little kids and young men learn in the Ganpati pandal… yes, they can never learn in their schools and colleges. In my own housing society, the Ganeshotsav has been organized for last fourteen years without any break… and, each year, it has been done in a bigger and grander way. The young men, who started it all, are now busy with their respective career and families. The little kids, who had been watching and assisting the seniors, have now grown up and taken over the charge… and, I see the same pattern unfolding, now. The little kids, who are now seen running around their older counterparts, are being moulded to shoulder the responsibility… For fourteen years, to sustain a big-scale event like this, without infighting and ego-hassles, is something commendable. The schools and colleges haven’t taught these little kids and young men all this… They have learnt it on their own. That’s why, I said, “What they learn in Gan...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty W hat is endearing to see, here in Mumbai, is the amazing fact that Ganesh idol is kept and worshiped by almost every kind of person – regardless of religion, class or creed. Mighty rich and the downright poor, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, yes almost all rejoicing in the Ganeshotsav … And, the Visarjan. .. Little ponds and lakes, vast rivers and seas… Lord Ganesh is sent off in any of them… But, it was not so, where I grew up – Mangalore. Only the members of  GSB (Goud Saraswat Brahmins) – the Konkani community – would keep Ganesh idol at their places… and, on the final day, immersed the Lord’s idol at the wells in their compound. It was a quiet, dignified affair… Mostly a private one. What I remember the most about it is, that, our next-door land-lady had a GSB tenant. Now, the land-lady was a Christian and had her rigid mindset. She would never allow her tenant to immerse the idol in the well in their compound. So, they approached my mom,. S...