Ganesh Festival 2012

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi. For the next ten days, the whole of Mumbai will go berserk celebrating the birth anniversary of the elephant-headed god – the lord of beginnings, the harbinger of good, remover of all obstacles... Schools and offices are shut today, buses are plying 24 hours, there are no security alerts, the rain gods are supposed to be on hold and most importantly, no ‘dry day’ has been declared.
Many did their puja early morning before coming to exercise in the Garden. Sunita Jajodia, for one, was already in a celebratory mood with a large tika emblazoned on her forehead and later joined the Badmaash Company for tea (below). Sitaram Hivarkar did not turn up as he has installed a Ganesh idol home. Harish Wadhwa too is having an elaborate puja at his place and has invited everyone to drop by and seek the blessings of “Ganapati Bappa” during the day.
In keeping with the festive spirit, Razia Khan today made an "eylaan" (announcement) after the exercises, formally inviting all members to an Eid lunch this Sunday. Last year also, she was the one to initiate this get-together on behalf of our Muslim brothers and sisters in the Club. This time things got a little delayed because many of them (including herself) were out on the tour of Kashmir. But surely the gesture speaks volumes of their magnanimity and large-heartedness at drawing members of other communities in their midst. The party is at Shreeji’s Restaurant, Oshiwara at 1:00 p.m., September 23, 2012.
Renu Babani's PICSPEAK:
* Ganpati Bappa Morya!
* Another feather in their cap: Badmaash Company did the impossible, got Sunita to join them! Anonymous:
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Harish Wadhwa:
* Ganpati Bappa Morya! Happy Ganapati to all of you. I pray for the good health of one and all to Bapppa. You are welcome.
* Renu-ji, everyone is badmaash in some ways. It is just that some are perpetual badmaash (like the BC gang) while the others show and exercise it selectively. The perpetual badmaash are more honest... as they don’t have to show it for an occasion. It comes naturally. Moral of the story: Be proud to be a badmaash and join the gang. 
* The Kashmir pic slides are too good!