Ashu was excited. This year’s Ganesh Chathurti was going to be a blast. The other members of the organizing committee had been skeptical when he had explained his idea for this year’s idol theme. Gappu Bhaiya had raised his eyebrows before opining that the entire concept was deeply disrespectful. Ganesh Chathurti was a day of deep prayers, piety and giving thanks for all the blessings received so far & to be received.

But Ashu had persevered and had even pointed out that their cricket Ganesha in the year when India won the world cup was an assured hit. He had also, rather cunningly, pointed out how their Ganesha would one-up the idol the next street guys had already bought. That turned to be the clinching argument.

As Ashu gang triumphantly proceeded to lift the idol, the bomb went off.

Author’s note: Ganesh Chathurthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the hindu festival that reveres god Ganesha. A ten-day festival in Mumbai and many other parts of India, it starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month,  which typically falls in Gregorian months of August or September. The festival is marked with installation of Ganesha clay idols privately in homes, or publicly on elaborate street stages. Observations include chanting of Vedic hymns and Hindu texts such as Ganapati Upanishad, prayers and vrata (fasting).The festival ends on the tenth day after start, wherein the idol is carried in a public procession with music and group chanting, then immersed in nearby water body such as a river or ocean. Upon the clay doll dissolution, Ganesha is believed to return to Mount Kailash to his parents, Parvati and Shiva.

Unfortunately Mumbai has experienced several bomb scares in the last two decades especially around the time of this festival with terrorists seeking to doom the psyche of the city and the country.

Written for the amazing priceless joy . Photo credit to my good friend Prasanna on whose behalf I submitted to Joy for the prompt.