The outside view

The expatriate community in Bengaluru has become an important part of the culture and ethos of the City. The expats here like to celebrate every Indian festival in true Indian style — be it in terms of food, mode of celebration or clothes. Among all Indian festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi arouses a lot of curiosity among them. The food, colours and rituals associated with it have fascinated them to no end.

Born and raised in London, Yana Lewis, the artistic director of The Lewis Foundation of Classical Ballet, first visited India 17 years ago. “When I first came here, I couldn’t understand why people worshipped an elephant god. Later, I learnt the stories and understood his significance as an elephant,” she says. Yana later married an Indian. She recalls, “We were supposed to have a small Ganesha printed on our wedding card. I didn’t understand why we needed to carry it at all. It was only later that I understood its importance after my husband explained that the Lord is also the nemesis of all obstacles.” Yana has had a feel of the festival and confesses that she absolutely loves the colour and the bonhomie associated with it. “Our daughter Jazmine loves to celebrate Ganesha. She enjoys going out on the street and taking part in all the festivities,” she adds.

Oliver Kaye left his hometown in England a few years a ago to take up a job in Mumbai. After travelling extensively across the country both on work and as a tourist, Oliver settled down in Bengaluru a few months ago. He says that he has seen and experienced Ganesh Chaturthi in the best of spirits when he was living in Mumbai and saw how the festival is celebrated in Bengaluru as well.

“While I was living in Mumbai, I had the privilege of taking part in the wonderful Ganapati immersion twice at Chowpatty Beach. I will never forgot the excitement of being at the beach with thousands of people from different communities. Many people asked me to walk into the sea with them for the final ritual of placing the Ganesha statue and praying,” he recollects. He says that he has also witnessed the immersion here in Bengaluru. “The festival of Ganesha brings back many lovely memories as everyone here is so welcoming and wants me to be a part of the experience. This is what makes India so special — inclusion, warmth and friendship,” he elaborates.

Youngsters go all out to celebrate the festival. They not only gorge on the food but also bring home a small idol of Ganesha to decorate and later partake in the immersion process. Eighteen-year-old Narnia is from Philippines. She, along with her 13-year-old sister Hamaynie, bring home the Ganesha every year. “My mother has received several Ganesha idols as gifts and we used to be very curious about how it would be when a man’s body has an elephant’s head. I learnt from school how Ganesha had an elephant head and found the story very interesting,” says Narnia. Hamaynie believes that when Ganesha is kept at the entrance of their home, it wards off evil. “We have heard from our Indian friends that Ganesha brings prosperity. His big belly means generosity. I am glad we have several Ganeshas at home,” she adds.

Food is an indispensable part of the festival and most households and restaurants across the City spread out a lavish feast. Boomlarah Panchai, a Japanese, relocated to Bengaluru a few years ago to join as a chef at Zen, The Leela Palace Bengaluru. He feels Ganesh Chaturthi is a fascinating festival as he gets to see a lot of beautiful sculptures. “From clay to colourful idols and street processions, the festival is a new experience to me. I also keep a small Ganesh statue at home as it symbolises good luck,” says Boomlarah. He also states that he is very fond of sweets. “I make ‘modakas’. There is a sweet and savoury version of the same but I like the sweet one with jaggery and coconut better,” he shares.