Celebrating across borders: How expats cultivate a strong connection with Ganeshotsav

It's that time of the year again. Mumbai's streets are brimming with cultural activity - devotees visiting pandals to catch a glimpse of Lord Ganesh, people thronging markets to make arrangements for the festival, families bringing Ganesh idols home as well as taking them for visarjan, and groups chanting ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya' with devotion.

Ganeshotsav is one of the most celebrated festivals in the city, the arrival of which is difficult to miss amidst all the excitement and anticipation. While the city's 10-day-long festival is marked with grandeur, its celebrations are not limited by geography or nationality.

How expats in Mumbai experience Ganeshotsav
When Gwenda Schobert, a marketing professional from Germany, first came to Mumbai in 2014 and witnessed Ganeshotsav celebrations in the city she couldn't believe what was happening until she experienced it herself over the years. "In my first year in Mumbai, I remember passing by Marine Drive on my way to work and seeing how the city prepared for the biggest festival in Mumbai. My Indian colleagues showed me pictures of huge Lord Ganesh idols and masses of devotees during Visarjan, and I simply couldn't believe it - until I experienced it myself," she remarks.

Now that she has been in the city for 10 years and believes she is a "Mumbaikar by choice", she enthusiastically participates in Ganeshotsav each year and has even discovered interesting facts about the festival.

She reveals, "A few years ago, I learned something very interesting about Ganesh Chaturthi during British rule: The colonisers had banned public gatherings, and the Indian freedom fighters came up with a powerful idea. They organised public Ganpati celebrations in Maharashtra for mass gatherings. Now, every year when we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai, I am reminded of the Indian Freedom Movement."

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"For the last 10 years, I have celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi by visiting my friend's houses. I love how the festival connects all - no matter which religion we follow, and no matter whether we were born here or moved to the city. I think next year, it is time for me to bring Ganpati Bappa to my own home," she concludes.

Many expats like Schobert have developed a special connection with Ganeshotsav. Others, though not deeply involved in the festivities, have come to appreciate different aspects of the celebrations.

Ryan Cleeren, who has been in Mumbai for over three years, says, "We have many friends who invite us to their house for different events during the festive season. I love how alive the city gets with all the festivities. Every night, there are fireworks outside our windows and music playing on the streets below. Last year, a car with Ganesha in the back drove through our society with a band walking behind on foot playing music, and everyone came out to enjoy this and celebrate together. I didn't understand the symbolism then but enjoyed the celebratory atmosphere."

However, she says, "We do not attend any large gatherings, as the crowds can be overwhelming."

Craig Boehman, an American photographer who has spent 13 years in the city, doesn't celebrate the festival but appreciates the festive atmosphere. "I love seeing all the shops that pop up with the idols and the roadside celebrations as I drive by. It's a nice change of pace to what I usually see," he states.
Apart from Ganeshotsav, the August-September season also witnesses other festivals.

Clereen reveals, "Today, we attended an Athai Parna for our neighbour's daughter who just completed an 8-day fast. It was very interesting to learn about why they were doing it and the symbolism behind it. I think there is something special about taking time each year to reflect on things you may have done wrong and things you can do better in the future."

In Jainism, ‘Athai Parna' is a fast of 8 days during the Paryushan Parv where one only drinks boiled water.

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Ganeshotsav celebrations abroad
One would think the festive atmosphere of Mumbai draws people in to participate in the festival. However, the spirit of Ganeshotsav is not bound by geography. Many Indians who have settled abroad or have gone there for studies/work wholeheartedly celebrate the festival.

A Parel-based idol maker reveals, "Every year, we get a lot of enquiries from outside India for Ganesh idols. Sending these idols abroad is a bit expensive but people who can afford it do place orders."

Pratiksha Pawar, who was in the USA for four years with family, reveals, "We celebrated Ganeshotsav by visiting pandals that had murtis, going to friends' houses where they kept Ganpati, and visiting local temples."

She further states, "While there are sizable murtis in New Jersey, the scale is smaller compared to Mumbai. Here, schools get a week off, and there are cultural programs and food organised by local societies. In New Jersey, such large-scale celebrations and cultural programs were not common, although visiting people's homes for Ganeshotsav was similar in both places."

"There were public celebrations in New Jersey as well, with murtis set up in various locations where people gathered to take blessings," she adds.

Jagavi Doshi, who went to the USA as a student and is now a working professional, also celebrates the festival in unique ways.

"I've been in the States since August 2022, and this is my third time celebrating Ganeshotsav here. However, this is the first time we brought Ganesha at home. Up until now, I had been visiting people who were hosting the festival- some students, some alumni. This time around, we decided to get our own and celebrate the festival privately instead. I also visited a friend's place- I feel like festivals are a good way to catch up with them, amidst all of our busy lives here," she states.

While the celebrations are not as grand as those in Mumbai, they provide a sense of belonging away from home.

"It's a small gathering of all of us coming together and feeling a little closer to home despite being about 7800 miles (approx 12,500 km) away! The celebrations are smaller, but closer to the heart because we're doing this all by ourselves now without any adult supervision, making our own mistakes, learning from it, and making our new traditions," she expresses.

There are not many public celebrations of Ganeshotsav in Rochester, New York, but those hosting the festivities are welcoming to newer students and guests.
"Students and alumni hosting these festivities are so welcoming to newer students, their family or even their friends and roommates (whether they're Indians or not) even if they don't know them. For festivities, it's almost like we keep aside all of our individualism and welcome everyone just the same," Doshi reveals.

"And because you don't anticipate how many people you'd be expecting, it's always a potluck. Every group that comes, brings some food with them - sweets, dinner, appetizers, anything. It's an unsaid rule, and everyone enjoys it! Like I said, we find a way to make it our festival with our new traditions," she concludes.