TV stars share their plans for Ganeshotsav

Decorations are being put up in place, Ganpati idols have been bought home and our telly actors are gearing up for modaks, masti and Prasad on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. In fact, many of them have taken an off from their shooting schedules to bring home the Lord of prosperity. This festival is considered to bring wisdom and good luck. On this auspicious occasion, Tellychakkar.com spoke to some TV stars asking them how they would celebrate this festival. Beautiful Kavita Kaushik from F.I.R said, “This will be our first year when we will be celebrating this festival, so we have brought it for one and half days. Since, this is our first year, I haven’t got an eco friendly idol, but next year, I will surely take care of it. Both my mother and father have come down from Delhi to celebrate this festival together. I and mom are going to wear sarees for puja. While, mom is going to cook kheer and five types of pakwan, I am going to try to make modak. I believe this festival brings Sukh Samridhi and bring people together.” Sharad Kelkar, aka Dr Ashutosh who is seen in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, said, “I have recently shifted to my new house so here it will be our first time otherwise it’s been more than 30 years that we are getting Ganeshji at our place. Every year, we make it a point to buy eco friendly ganpati idols. The government should make it compulsory for all to use the same. Idols made of plaster of Paris don’t dissolve easily as those are made up of mud. I will not take a break for five days but will make sure that I do morning and evening arti. My entire house looks beautiful with lightings. Like every year, my mom and Kirti will prepare modak and many other sweets. Friends and relatives come over to my place. I feel that it is important to celebrate such festivals for it helps the younger generation to know more about our cultural and religious values.” Averred Angad Hasija, “This will be our fourth year and like every year, I have tried out a different theme for the one and half day celebration. This year, I have kept a dark pink and green colour combination. This year, I have got an eco-friendly Ganesh idol. We celebrate this occasion just as we celebrate someone’s marriage. I don’t even have a minute's rest during this period as somebody or the other keep dropping in. My mom and my wife will cook bhog –khada prasad, kheer, besan ka ladoo and modak. I also order sweets from Punjab. Next day, we have satya narayan pooja. Our eyes get numb when we go for the visarjan (immersion).” Muskaan Mehani, who was last seen in Bhai Bhaiya aur Brother, said, “It’s been ten years now that we are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi. Every year, we wait for bappa to come to our place and bless us. It’s a big occasion for us and we celebrate this festival with lots of love. Like every year, this time also I have called a few decorators to decorate my house. We have brought an eco friendly idol this year. Like every year, my mom will cut her self-made cake at the time of sthapna of bappa in the presence of dholak guys who are called over for the occasion. We keep akhand diya for five days and call a pandit to perform the pooja.” Handsome lad Arjun Bijlani added, “We bring bappa to our place for one and half days. Me, my parents and a few friends of mine decorate the entire house with flower and lights to give a personal touch. The day starts with pooja performed by panditji. Later, we have satya vinayak pooja. My mom prepares bhog (prasad) that is later served to all those who are present on the occasion. I haven’t got an eco friendly idol because we immerse all the idols in our area in a small pond near my building which is cleaned before Ganesh Chaturthi.” Lastly, Ragini Khanna observed, “It’s been eight years that we have been getting bappa to our house. This year, I have kept red and golden theme and have decorated the entire house with lots of flowers and lightings. On this day, mom cooks different types of sweets and farsan. My friends and relatives come over to my place for darshan.”