T hese days, every exhibition in the city boasts of different Ganesh idols. A playground for an artisan's imagination, these Ganesh idols are in different shapes and sizes. This Monday, the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapad, is the beginning of the festival. On this day, families and groups install an idol of Ganesh at an auspicious time, always in the morning, with much fanfare. Then saffron- coloured gandh and haldi kurnkum is applied.
Some people embellish the idol with ornaments of the house, and add illumination too.
Legend has it that Ganapati loves red flowers, specially hibiscus, so mainly, these flowers are used. With some families, it is a system you pass on from generation to generation, especially in families with sons. In families where Ganesha is the family deity, the idol is installed by the priest and the ritual is more elaborate. Others do it informally, for their own joy. The late evenings and nights are devoted to cultural entertainment such as music, dance, debates.