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Gauri Gharpure studied journalism at Columbia University, New York, on a Fulbright grant. She makes paper jewellery. Follow her on twitter @gaurigharpure
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Many religions are plagued by ritualism and it is heartening to see people interpret religion in innovative ways and to show unprecedented ways to reach out to the less privileged. Without knowing or understanding their original significance, ritualistic practises can become impractical, outdated, time-consuming and expensive
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This Ganesh Chaturthi, a bakery in Ludhiana, Punjab, has prepared a 3-ft big Ganesha idol from 40 kilos of pure Belgian chocolate. Instead of performing the “visarjan” in a water-body, this chocolate idol will be symbolically immersed in milk. The resultant chocolate milkshake will then be distributed among underprivileged children of the locality.
Can there be a better way to please the ultimate foodie of all Gods? Ganesha’s pot-belly signifies his love for food. The elephant-headed God, whose large head symbolically represents his intellect, also has a major sweet tooth. So, if like the judges of Sarvajanik Ganpati Mandals who are tasked with choosing winners of drama, elocution and cooking competitions held during the festival, if Ganesha himself were to rank his eco-friendly idols this year, this Belgian chocolate Ganpati would be a winner.
Harjinder Singh Kukreja, a restaurateur, chocolatier and co-founder of the Belfrance bakery, came up with this idea so that the festival goes a step beyond communal joy and environmental consciousness. The concept of voluntary service, especially by providing food for the hungry, is ingrained in the “langar” tradition of Sikhism. Taking inspiration from this noble idea, Harjinder went on to make a chocolate idol that will also be a treat for kids who can otherwise not afford even milk, forget chocolate milkshake. Similar chocolate / sugar Ganesha idols have been made by baker Rintu Kalyani Rathod of Mumbai since 2011.
Unfortunately, the number of those who opt for environmentally conscious innovations is less compared to those falling for the razzmatazz of the festivity and opting for mass-manufactured Plaster-of-Paris (PoP) idols jazzed up in alluring but harmful lead-based colours. But, a chocolate idol might change the way things are done in future.
Going by the number of retweets, favourites and shares on social media, Belfrance bakery’s chocolate Ganesha idea has become a rage. Satinder Singh Kukreja, co-founder, hopes that next year people across India will make such idols and further the spirit of donation for needy children. He has even promised free tutorials to everyone who wants to learn how to make such idols. It took more than a week to make this idol ready for September 5, the day of Ganesh Chaturthi. Just the cost of raw materials to make the chocolate Ganesha, without factoring in labour, was close to Rs 30,000. The idol was kept at low temperature in hygienic conditions till the morning of September 8, when it was immersed in milk. Harjinder and Satinder plan to distribute the milkshake prasad (offering) to street kids on Thursday night and Friday morning. “We have not identified any orphanage or charity because there are so many poor kids just in this locality right outside our shop. So, as the word spreads, am sure they will come here for the prasad,” said Harjinder over the phone.
Many religions are plagued by ritualism and it is heartening to see people interpret religion in innovative ways and to show unprecedented ways to reach out to the less privileged. Without knowing or understanding their original significance, ritualistic practises can become impractical, outdated, time-consuming and expensive. However, if religion, rituals and tradition are interpreted pragmatically, positive outcomes like the chocolate Ganesha emerge.
Another recent story in favour of innovative interpretation of traditions is worth sharing. Even as the wedding industry in India is estimated to be over Rs 100,000 crore, with an annual growth of 25-30%, there is a small but impressive tribe of youth who are promoting minimalistic weddings. For example, in July this year, Abhay Deware and Priti Kumbhare hosted a no-fuss marriage in Amravati, Maharashtra. They used the money they saved for charity.
The couple donated Rs 20000 each to 10 farmer families whose sole breadwinner had committed suicide, provided Rs 52,000 worth of books and texts for competitive exams to five village libraries in rural Maharashtra, and invited local activists and social workers to mingle with the guests. Abhay is an Indian Revenue Service officer undergoing training at the Nagpur-based National Academy of Direct Taxes while Priti works as an assistant manager with IDBI Bank's Mumbai branch. They fell in love while preparing for the UPSC and MPSC exams and it is befitting that one of their many gifts was textbooks of competitive civil exams.
Such modern interpretation of traditions also requires a scientific temperament and social awareness. But, a cursory glance in the classifieds section of any newspaper will reveal half a dozen dubious advertisements by quacks, tantriks and astro-pundits who guarantee quick-shot remedies for everything from job problems to impotency. Editorial scrutiny for such rubbish advertisements is almost non-existent even in reputed dailies. In such a scenario, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many of us remain wide-eyed, gullible and easy prey to superstitious ritualistic behaviour.
Coming back to Ganesha, how many of you remember the “milk-miracle” when Ganesha idols reportedly started “drinking milk” for almost an entire day, the world over, on September 21, 1995? People thronged to temples to check if the “rumour” was true. Some friends, relatives and neighbours also tried to verify the milk-drinking Ganeshas and reported back dazzled, with affirmative findings. So what really happened? Was it a case of mass hypnosis, some “chemical locha” in the air or capillary action? Whatever it was, milk overflowed on streets and was offered to mud idols that September but the poor still remained hungry. Thankfully, that isn’t likely to happen in a little corner of Ludhiana this year.
