Chants, joy & fervour as Bappa arrives

Patna: The air was filled with fervent chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya” as the city came alive to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi on Saturday. The much-anticipated arrival of Lord Ganesha, lovingly known as Bappa, marked the beginning of the weeklong Ganesh Utsav here, hosted by the Maharashtra Mandal.
At the heart of the celebrations was a magnificent six-foot idol of Lord Ganesha, unveiled to the public at Maharashtra Mandal on Daroga Rai Path.The idol, brought in from Maharashtra, is a replica of Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja. The rituals, including the traditional aarti, drew a large number of devotees eager to catch a glimpse of Bappa and seek his blessing.
Maharashtra Mandal president Jai Chand Panwar and secretary Sanjay Bhosle said the “Pran Pratishta” of the idol took place at 9.30am, performed by Pandit Prashant Jahagirdar, specially invited from Sangli, Maharashtra. “Apart from the stunning six-foot replica, the diamond-studded crown and the backdrop of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir ‘garbh griha’ have captured everyone’s attention,” Bhosle said.
Vijay Patil, treasurer of the Maharashtra Mandal, said, “We wait all year for Lord Ganesh’s arrival and once he is here, the joy is indescribable.” Asked if he missed the celebrations in Maharashtra, his home state, he said, “Not at all. We have been settled here for 40 years and the fervour is just as intense.”
Fellow member Mahadev, also a treasurer, spoke of how swiftly the week passes with Bappa. “We spend all our time at the Mandal, organising and helping people. There is no other priority until Bappa leaves,” he said.
The celebrations are not limited to those from Maharashtra. Anjani Kumari, a resident of Mithapur, has been attending the event for the last decade. “I adore everything about this place – from the divine presence of Bappa to the vibrant decorations. I make it a point to visit at least three to four times while Bappa is here,” she said. Anjani’s daughter, Annie Raj, a Class IX student, echoed her mother’s excitement, saying it’s always a joyful time to see Bappa.