Maha Aarti

When I was a child I simply love Ganesh Utsav. Somehow I had close attachment with this festival. What I loved the most was the Ganesh pooja that used to happen in my society complex.

We in our society Complex used to have a five day Ganesh puja. During these 5 days I would be near the pandal of Ganpati Bappa. All of the kids would be near the idol. I used to feel a very positive energy during those days. I would spend all my days there and would come home only for lunch and dinner. I would attend all the Aarti that used to happen.

But the best Aarti used to be maha aarti on the day of immersion (visarjan). The last Aarti before immersion used to be the maha aarti and as the name indicates it used to be the biggest Aarti of the festival. During this maha aarti we would sing all the aartis. The duration of maha aarti would easily go beyond one hour. Sometimes it would even last for 2 hours. I would always find it difficult to stay for the maha aarti. Standing for a prolonged duration and screaming the aartis at the top of the voice had always been challenging for me. I would still manage to do it. Once the maha aarti was over I remember I used to get leg pain and sore throat. It was the price I used to pay for attending the maha aarti and I would say that it was worth it.

Over the years the crowd for maha aarti had started reducing. The attendees too had gone down over the years. The maha aarti started getting shorter. But the devotion and dedication still remained. All these years I would never fail to attend the maha aarti.

In 2017 we left that society complex and moved to a different part of the city. Ever since that time during Ganesh Utsav I remember our old society maha aarti every year. I still talk about how it used to be for long hours and we would still enjoy it. I still remember the atmosphere during the maha aarti. I still miss the energy that I used to feel during the maha aarti. I always feel like Maha Aarti had been and integral part of my devotional and cultural upbringing. Ganesh Utsav shaped my character and who I am today.

Yesterday was Anant Chaturdashi which was the last day for immersion of Ganesh idols and that concluded the Ganesh Utsav. Last evening I was at my home. I was waiting for the nearby pandals to start their maha aarti so that I can sing with them. When the maha aarti began I started singing the aarti with them. Just like my childhood days, I had been screaming those aarti at the top of my voice. I felt the same energy last night that I used to feel in my childhood. Each and every Aarti that was being sung was bringing back all the pleasant memories from my childhood. With each prayer I was feeling more connected to my beloved Ganpati Bappa.

When it was the time for the last Aarti to bid goodbye to Ganpati Bappa I felt emotional. My eyes filled with tears knowing that my favourite festival Ganesh Utsav is about to conclude. I felt sad knowing that Ganpati Bappa was going to depart. With heavy heart I sang the last Aarti "जाहले भजन" (meaning the bhajan is concluded) which is the aarti to say goodbye and apologize for any mistakes during the worship. With tears in my eyes I realised that this beautiful festival had concluded and now Ganpati Bappa will arrive only next year. Even before his departure I had already started missing him.

I believe that there is a thin line between love and devotion. I believe I have already crossed the border of love and have entered the realm of devotion.