This marks the 71st year of Ganpati festivities at Swwapnil Joshi’s home in Mumbai. The actor shares that the festival holds a rather special significance in the Joshi household. He says, “My grandfather had promised to bring Bappa over to our house if he had a son. Toh papa ke janam se Ganesh ji ka baithna shuru hua humaare ghar pe.”

Welcoming the idol and then immersing it happens in a rather unusual way in his family. Talking about how the same idol is worshipped every year, Joshi says, “Ten years back, eco-friendly Ganpati idols became a trend. That’s when we did away with the regular mitti ka murti and we got a panchdhatu murti (a five metal alloy which is considered to be auspicious). We do His aagman at the balcony or the main door of our house. Then we immerse it in a tub. After that, we clean it and put it back inside the showcase.” He adds that the drill is followed to keep the idol in his home throughout the year.

Much like every year, the Samantar actor says that the celebration will span across one-and-a-half days. However, he will miss catching up with friends and relatives: “Earlier, about a thousand people would come to our home to visit Ganpati. Chatting over good food helps everyone bond. But the norms haven’t been eased for festivities to happen in Maharashtra yet.”

As Joshi looks forward to two days of no work, keertans and ukadiche modaks prepared by his mother, he prays for a time that is free of the Coronavirus. “I genuinely believe that Bappa is the harbinger of new beginnings. Hopefully, this Ganesh Chaturthi will bring this health crisis to an end. If all of us pray hard. He will listen to us,” he ends.