Ganesha with a Message

While I enjoy going to see all the Ganpatis in their various avatars around Mumbai during the ten days of Ganeshotsav, it is those with a message which really touch my heart. Among my favourite ones - one I have been seeing for almost 20 years now, and which is located right outside my college - is the Ruia Naka Ganpati. 

This year the theme is 'Save the Girl Child'.... And they have chosen to depict it through the medium of the Goddess as well as women achievers.

Maharashtra is home to 3 1/2 Shaktipeethas - 52 temples of the Devi located in the Indian Subcontinent - From left to right in the pic - Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, Tulja Bhavani at Tuljapur, Renuka Devi at Mahur and Saptashrungi Devi at Vani.

And behind these deities are women achievers from every possible field.. There is a board in front of the deity -

The issue taken up here is the spate of female foeticides, and in Marathi is a poem asking the Lord to bless us with a vision that makes us see, not just a girl child in the ultrasound, but an achiever. 

What I really liked about this one is how it focuses on changing our vision - after all, it is how we see things that decides how we react to issues. So it is that vision we need to change!

Usha, I really missed you this year! Esp when we visited this Ganpati.. which, I remember, is the only one you really liked when we visited Ganpatis together!