Ganpati Bappa Morya!
Hey my people,
With Ganpati Bappa in the house, the energy is something else, isn’t it? It honestly feels like your favorite relative has come to visit, the one who knows exactly which toys and sweets to bring. And of course, when it’s Bappa, there’s always a plate of steaming hot modaks waiting.
Being brought up in Pune, Ganesh festival has always been more than just a festival for me, it’s a whole season. From July itself, the city starts to buzz. Whichever road you take, you’ll hear dhol-tasha practice happening somewhere in the background, Tulsibaug market bursting with decorations, colorful pandals coming up in every nook, and that special kind of excitement that only Ganeshotsav brings.
But what I looked forward to the most were the stories.
My dadi would sit us down and tell us tales of Gannu Bappa, his wit, his mischief, his wisdom. Infact I met Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty quite late in life, but Ganesha’s stories, I grew up with them. They were my bedtime magic. And today, I thought why not revisit a few of those?
Story 1: The Beginning
Once, Parvati ji made a little boy out of sandalwood paste to guard her while she bathed. When Shiva came home and tried to enter, the boy stopped him. Shiva, furious, cut off his head. When Parvati saw this, her grief shook the world. To calm her, Shiva promised to bring the boy back and replaced his head with that of an elephant. And that’s how our beloved Ganesha was born.
Story 2: Who’s the Smartest?
Ganesh and his brother Kartikeya were once asked to race around the world. Kartikeya immediately flew off on his peacock, but Ganesh, with his tiny mouse, had no chance. So what did he do? He quietly circled his parents, Shiva and Parvati, and said, “You are my world.”
Story 3: The Broken Tusk
When Sage Vyasa wanted someone to write down the Mahabharata, Ganesh agreed on one condition: Vyasa had to keep narrating without stopping. Midway, Ganesh’s pen broke, so he broke off his own tusk and used it to keep writing. That’s why he’s often called Ek-dant, the one with a single tusk.
Story 4: The Sweetest Modak
One day, the devas (gods) offered Ganesh a divine modak, filled with knowledge and sweetness. He loved it so much that from then on, modaks became his favorite food, symbolizing the bliss of wisdom. During Ganesh Chaturthi, devotees prepare and offer modaks, not just as a treat, but as a reminder that true sweetness lies in learning and understanding.
For me, these stories were never just about gods and rituals. They were about childhood, about dadi’s voice carrying me into another world, and about learning life lessons without even realizing it. Ganesha’s stories are basically life hacks in disguise, set boundaries like a boss (even if it means stopping Shiva at the door), remember brains beat speed (sorry Kartikeya, the mouse won), stay resourceful when things break (who needs a pen when you’ve got a tusk?), and never underestimate the joy of a good modak (because wisdom is sweet, but snacks are sweeter).
So, this Ganesh Chaturthi, as the dhol beats fill the air, the pandals light up, and modaks steam in the kitchen, may Bappa’s stories continue to guide us in our everyday lives.
Love & Icecreams
Sneha Singhvi
Very informative
thankyou 🙂