Live event at Nasik and then off to Delhi for TieCon Delhi 2012

Mumbai is resonant with Lord Ganpati’s immersion processions on alternate days! It sure is festive time in my city. I have some travelling to do from tonight till Saturday so going to miss out the tenth day celebrations!

Off to Bangalore this evening to be with a big multinational company involved in food processing industry for an immersion day, the whole of tomorrow, understanding what they do, how they do it before I begin my work with them. So, then on early Friday morning, that is Sept 28th, a smooth ride of about 4-5 hours by road to Nasik, the ‘grape city’ which everyone first and foremost associate with Shirdi. I have a live interactive show for the audience of Dainik Divya Marathi. It is being held at Hotel Express Inn situated at Mumbai-Agra Road, Pathardi Phata. Quite a central location and I start at 2.30 pm. What’s the plan? Fusion recipes like I said but just to get the appetite whetted something with pasta, some thing to do with pav bhaji and cake and pizza! Innovating desserts like Motichoor Phirni and a novel Pav Bhaji Biryani awaits you! It will be a creative, interactive and fun filled time on stage! Entry is by invitation only.

From Nasik off to Delhi straightaway! Attending the TiEcon Delhi 2012 on Saturday 29th Sept at Hotel Taj Palace. TiEcon is one of the world’s largest conferences for entrepreneurs operating on their motto of ‘Entrepreneurship – Thriving in Chaos’. I have a special slot from 2.15 pm to 3 pm in what they call the Rapid Fire session titled ‘Profit and pride – Brand stories’. It will be an interactive, informal and engaging 45 minutes in which I am free to relate my experiences and anecdotes from my entrepreneurial journey. Then in the following half hour I have to give a keynote address on my personal entrepreneurial journey – great platform to share my key moments in hindsight, what has impacted me, best memories etc. I have to condense my life’s journey in a capsule of 15-20 minutes and have some serious script writing lying ahead for me!

So as I go back to that file on my computer let me wish you all a Happy Anant Chaturdashi!

Till we connect again

Sanjeev Kapoor.

 

 

 

Ganesh Chaturthi – the grand celebration

Two to three months prior to the day of Ganesh Chaturthi, a huge life-like model of Lord Ganesha is made, the size of which might vary from three-fourth of an inch to over 25 feet.

The idol is placed on elevated platforms in homes or intricately decorated outdoor pandals or tents on the day of the festival, for people to view and pay their homage. The ritual of pranapratishhtha is carried out by a priest who is usually clad in red silk dhoti and shawl. He also invokes life into the idol of Lord Ganesha amidst the chanting of mantras. The shhodashopachara or sixteen ways of paying homage follows just after this where coconut (nariyal), jaggery (gur), twenty one modaks, twenty one durva blades and red flowers are offered to the Lord. The number 21 signifies the five organs of perception, five organs of action, five vital airs (pranas), five elements and the mind. Lord Ganesha’s idol is also smeared with red sandal paste or the rakta chandan. All throughout the ceremony, chantings of Vedic hymns from Rig Veda and Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad and Ganesha Stotra from the Narada Purana are done.

After ten days, that is on the eleventh day, the Ganesha idol is taken through the streets in magnificent processions alongwith singing, chanting and sancing to be immersed in a river or sea that symbolizes the ritual of see-off of the God in his journey towards his abode in Mount Kailash while taking away with him the misfortunes of all man. A final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor is made and the idol is finally immersed in the waters.

Enjoy the majestic celebrations with delectable

Chocolate and Nut Karanji
Motichoor Laddoo 
Burfi Rawa Sheera

Ganesh Chaturthi – religious festivities

Tinkling of bells and chants of ‘Jaidev Jaidev Jai Mangal Murti, Darshan majhe man kamana purati, Jaidev Jaidev’ heralds the arrival of the elephant god, Lord Ganesh, into the homes of his devotees.

The melodic chanting of ‘Om Ganeshaya Namaha’ marks the beginning of any ritual in the Hindu religion. Lord Ganesh is the epitome of good luck who removes all the obstacles lying in the path of his devotees. He brings prosperity to his worshippers and keeps natural calamities at bay.  He is the lord of all that is auspicious and successful and His blessings are invoked before starting anything new.  He and the little mouse that is always with Him as His vahan (vehicle) are ideal examples of a balanced life, of how two opposites can co-exist peacefully and harmoniously.

Ganesh festival lasts for nearly a month in the city of Pune with a lot of cultural programmes organised by eminent artists, musicians and dancers. It is a multi-cultural platform for artistes to offer their art and invoke blessings at the feet of the Lord. As this is done on a fairly large scale, a number of Ganesh associations have been formed not only in Pune but throughout the state of Maharashtra.

In Hyderabad under the Nizam’s rule, many Maharashtrians held high administrative positions. The Ganesh festival celebrated by them as a social ceremony thus sprouted roots in Andhra Pradesh. And today, this tradition continues. The unique feature of this festival in Hyderabad is that the artists making the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make magnificent, tall and elegant idols. If in Khairatabad (in Hyderabad city) at the time of Ganesh festival, look out for the largest Ganesh idol. It’s difficult to miss anyway as sometimes it scales more than 30 feet in height!

Savour these dishes this year and make it an absolute treat on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Rice Bhakri

Jain Osaman 

Malai Peda