Little Devotees Take Centre Stage This Ganesh Chaturthi

…to their small idols as they were taken in cranes and vehicles for immersion. Six-year-old Kritansha was excited about travelling in the vehicle carrying her apartment's Ganesha, but the immersion was another matter. “ I don't like sending Ganesha to his mother Parvathi. This year, we had two at home. I cried while saying goodbye. But he has to go. Today, I am seeing so many big Ganeshas. I got into the truck and danced while saying goodbye to Ganesh. We also threw flowers at each other ,” she said. For some children, the festival has become a family tradition. K. Chinamayee, a Class 5 student, going to the immersion with her parents, siblings and cousins Anagha and Nithya, said: “We do it every year…

…flowers at each other,” she said. For some children, the festival has become a family tradition. K. Chinamayee, a Class 5 student, going to the immersion with her parents, siblings and cousins Anagha and Nithya, said: “ We do it every year and it is a lot of fun. I wait to see the large Ganesh idols sitting in the vehicles ,” she said. But children are not only participants at the pandals. In some neighbourhoods, they are also taking responsibility for organising them. In Gowliguda, Aarav and his group were busy managing their Ganesha…

…their Ganesha celebrations. Between coordinating their clothes, dancing to songs played on their parents' phones and helping with the arrangements, the children have their own way of making the festival special. “ We keep Ganesha every year. Since last year, we have also been auctioning the ladoos. The money is used for next year's Ganesha. My father comes with us for the immersion. We put up the shed, select our Ganesha and collect money from people in the neighbourhood. Some elders also help us while transporting the idol. There are many apartments around, so we go around collecting money. We do our pooja and sit near our Ganesha throughout the night ,” Aarav said.…