Lejhim and Dhol Tasha at Ganesh Chaturthi by Maharashtra Mandal Atlanta

(Left) The biodegradable Ganesh ji. (Photo: Pramod Bhirvandekar)

On Saturday, September 7, 2019, an all-day event
was organized by Maharashtra Mandal Atlanta (MMA)
at Sumant Center of Ambaji Shakti Mandir in Lake
City, Georgia. In the hallway were booths that sold
Indian clothes, jewelry, arts, and crafts. A beautiful
Ganesh idol at the entrance with beautiful rangoli welcomed
everyone. On one side of the hall an altar was
created where members could offer their prayers and
aarti to Ganesh ji.

Most of the ladies wore traditional Maharashtrian
style sarees and jewelry. Peacocks and elephants were
part of the pattern of weaves, and jewelry displayed
the authentic antique style. (3 Photos  above: Vaibhav Bhosale)

President Rachana Kanvinde shared the theme of
this year—Go Green—to help the community become
aware of the issues of environment, right from the Ganesh
murti that would be immersed, to serving food
in biodegradable, compostable products that would
help the environment. Community members were
very supportive by stacking all the plates and bowls
and disposing of spoons and napkins in a separate trash
can.

President Rachana Kanvinde doing the Ganesh aarti with the community. (Photo: Shots by VB: Vaibhav Bhosale)

The morning started with Ganesh pooja, followed
by a maha-aarti chanting various songs. The afternoon
lunch was scrumptious, traditional Marathi cuisine
with poori, alu baingan, bhindi masala, daal, pakora, and
the highlight—delicious, warm modak filled with coconut,
jaggery, and ghee, and tea. Children seem to enjoy
modak and taking pride in how many they could eat:
2, 3, 4, 8, they shouted out when Rachana asked the
audience if they enjoyed the modak served.

(Photo: Vaibhav Bhosale)

The cultural program included a play enacted by
community members young and old, which was very
well scripted, bringing in the roles of old and young
and in-between age groups. It was entertaining and
educational, addressing problems of wasting money
on decoration, and bringing awareness of going green
while narrating the story of the journey of Ganesh ji.
Dances and a musical band were incorporated, creating
a festival of colors for the eyes.

(Below left and right) Members of the Dhol Tasha group playing the drums for a ceremonial departure for Bappa. (Photos: Vaibhav Bhosale)

In the evening, Ganesh ji was placed on a decorated
palanquin and there followed the traditional group
of “Lejhim and Dhol Tasha.” Lejhim was performed to a
fast upbeat music number by kids from 4 years old to
teens and adults. Dhol Tasha was performed with vigor
to the sounding of drums and led the procession culminating
in Ganesh ji’s visarjan.

Website Bonus Feature

Photographer:
https://www.instagram.com/shotsbyvb/, http://shotsbyvb.com

Sponsor: AoPS Academy was part sponsor of this event and had a booth.

History: This celebration was popularized by Lokmanya Tilak in 1893 when he praised the celebration of Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav in his newspaper, Kesari. He dedicated his efforts to launch the annual domestic festival into a large, well organized public event. This was his way of uniting people from different castes and classes against the British rule. The festival is widely celebrated in Maharashtra with pomp and show which started in the city of Pune. Other states that participate are Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamilnadu.